The minister described his meeting as important as it helped, he said to the press, to overview all subjects of common interest, including the Sahara issue.

Polisario camps in Tindouf in Algeria

During these discussions, in the presence of the personal envoy of UN Secretary General for the Sahara, Christopher Ross, the two sides emphasized some progress made, through informal negotiations, particularly in terms of confidence-building, mine-clearing and seminars measures, however, a lot remain to be done politically regretted El Otmani.

The meeting came a day after the ninth round of informal talks held from March 11 to 13 in Manhasset, outside New York.

The Minister emphasized the need of the population census in the Tindouf camps so that the issue can reappear on the next Secretary General's report on the Sahara.

El Otmani took the opportunity to highlight Morocco's desire to reach a final settlement of this artificial dispute, on the basis of the autonomy initiative, which, he said, enjoys growing support from the international community qualified as serious and credible.

Regional security has also been part of the discussions between the two parties which have highlighted the important role of Morocco as a political actor in particular for the preservation of peace and stability.

The regional security and peace are the responsibility of all, insisted El Otmani, especially, he noted, that we know the threats to the region after the proliferation of the Libyan weapons in the Sahel- Saharan Africa.
 

Reaction of MEP Gilles Pargneaux on the situation in the Sahel and regarding the Sahara

- News on Western Sahara issue / Corcas -