Mr. Khalihenna Ould Errachid said in a statement to the press, that the peoples of the region look forward to this kind of process based on "dialogue and understanding in order to overcome differences," adding that " our brothers in the Sahara and Tindouf as well as the peoples of the Maghreb hope these negotiations will come up with positive results".

The President of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs, which is among of the delegation to the first round of negotiations for a final settlement to the Sahara issue (scheduled on June 18 19 in Manhasset, New York), said that the peoples of the region and Sahrawis wherever they are expressing their hope to see "brothers talking in a democratic transparent, fraternal and coherent manner with a view to finding a solution to this conflict that satisfies all parties."

He said, "After this long period of misunderstanding, unfulfilled dates and unsuccessful negotiations, we hope to open on Monday a new page."

He described of the decision by the parties concerned to enter into negotiations in good faith and without preconditions, as "good start" and he hoped to reach "an adequate, just and definitive solution to this issue, which hampered the building of the Arab Maghreb Union."

Mr. Khalihenna Ould Errachid concluded by mentioning the great responsibility felt by the Moroccan delegation, as well as the historical responsibility of all parties to rid the Maghreb region of the dispute over the Sahara issue.

The Kingdom of Morocco in the first round of negotiations is represented by an important delegation composed of Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa, Taieb Fassi Fihri, Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Fouad Himma Minister Delegate at the Interior,. Khalihenna Ould Errachid, Mohammed Yasine Mansouri, Director-General of Studies and Documents, and Mustapha Sahel Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations.

    Source: MAP