Under the title "HM King Mohammed VI announces in Laayoune development projects," the daily said the royal speech spelled out several regional development initiatives, notably the new membership of the Royal Advisory Council for Sahara Affairs (CORCAS).
The royal initiatives are meant to "find a lasting solution to the Sahara issue," said the daily, adding the CORCAS "is the first step consolidating the tradition of consultation," enabling a large participation of the population "in all issues on territorial unity and economic, social and cultural development of the southern provinces of the kingdom".
Morocco has worked out an autonomy proposal it is presenting to the United Nations in a move to settle the Sahara conflict that opposes since 1975 the north African country to the separatist Algeria-backed “polisario” movement, which claims the separation of the provinces from the motherland.
The southern provinces, known as the Sahara, were retrieved at the time by Morocco from Spanish rule under the Madrid accords signed by Spain, Morocco and Mauritania.