"Benin is following with great interest the Moroccan autonomy proposal, which constitutes a credible basis for negotiations to reach a settlement of this situation and create conditions for a viable and security space needed by the area to address in particular the rise of extremism and armed groups, "he said.

For his part, Mr. Fassi Fihri stressed that this meeting was an opportunity for both parties to highlight the importance of bilateral relations, marked in recent years by a significant change in the light of the interest that HM King Mohammed VI gives to relations with African countries.

It was also an opportunity to reiterate the support of the democratic republic of Benin to Morocco's territorial integrity and the autonomy initiative by the Kingdom in order to reach a final solution to the Sahara issue, he said.

This meeting provided also an opportunity to discuss ways to develop bilateral relations in all fields, and discuss the latest developments in the international situation including Cote d'Ivoire and Libya.

- News and events concerning Western Sahara issue/ Corcas -