"This autonomy proposal is the most pertinent basis to break the impasse," said Fillon at a joint press conference following the 10th Morocco-France high level meeting.

 "The status-quo cannot be an objective. Concluding an agreement is very essential to secure development and security" for the Maghreb Arab region, he said.

    France encourages talks over the Moroccan proposal and backs efforts made by the UN secretary general and his personal envoy for the Sahara to reach a solution, the French official said.

    Moroccan Premier Abbas El Fassi paid a tribute to the stance of France and its President Nicolas Sarkozy, who did not stop proclaiming that the Moroccan autonomy proposal is "serious and credible."

    France is "at the forefront of several countries which have seconded" the Moroccan plan, El Fassi said.

    Morocco proposes "a just political solution of no winner, no loser" to preserve peace and security in the region and promote the building of the Arab Maghreb, he added, deploring the closing of the Moroccan-Algerian borders.           

    El Fassi has drawn the attention to Morocco's goodwill, saying that "our weapon is constructing, developing and upholding the political, economic and social rights" of Sahraouis, contrary to the neighbouring country which revels in perpetuating the status-quo over the Sahara issue.

    He said he was "very confident" about the situation prevailing in the Saharan provinces, recalling that over 80% of Sahraouis have chosen Morocconness, while the remaining 20% are scattered over the Tindouf camps and Mauritania and trying to join the motherland.
 
    Abbas El Fassi said he was "positive" about the outcome of the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara.

 Source : MAP
 Events concerning Western Sahara