In a statement read to the press, Kohler recalled that, at his invitation, delegations from Morocco, Algeria, "polisario" and Mauritania had taken part in a second round table meeting on March 21-22 near Geneva, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2440. The delegations, Kohler added, "have been committed courteously and openly and in an atmosphere of mutual respect".

They praised the new momentum generated by the first round table meeting in December of last year, and pledged to continue to engage in the process in a serious and respectful manner. The delegations, he went on to say, agreed on the need to further strengthen trust.

Kohler said that delegations had in-depth discussions on how to reach a mutually acceptable political solution to the Sahara issue, "a realistic, pragmatic, lasting, compromise-based, just and viable solution", in accordance with the provisions of the latest Security Council Resolution 2440.

In this regard, "they agreed to continue discussions in order to identify elements of convergence", he said, adding that there was "a consensus that a solution to the Sahara issue will benefit the whole Maghreb". 

The delegations, he noted, acknowledged that the region had a particular responsibility to contribute to a solution, before concluding that they had "commended the Personal Envoy's intention to invite them back again to a meeting according to the same format". 

The Moroccan delegation to the second round table meeting was led by Nasser Bourita, minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. It also included Omar Hilale, Morocco's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Sidi Hamdi Ould Errachid, president of the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region, Yenja El Khattat, president of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, and Fatima El Adli, community actor and member of Smara's municipal council.

-News on Western Sahara / Corcas-