The call was made by spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Jon Wilks, in a statement to MAP-London, stressing that the autonomy project, presented by Morocco to reach a solution to the 32-year dispute on the Sahara, "represents a constructive and realistic initiative that gave momentum to negotiations."

    A former Spanish colony, the Sahara was ceded to Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accord. A year later, the separatist movement of Polisario, fully backed by Algeria, started claiming the independence of the territory.

    Recalling that his country has favorably welcomed the Moroccan initiative to grant substantial autonomy to its southern provinces, the Sahara, Mr.
Wilks underlined that the UK will continue to play a constructive part within the UNO to encourage the parties to show realism and a spirit of compromise, pointing out that the Moroccan initiative is a positive contribution.

    Morocco and Polisario have thus far held four rounds of UN-sponsored talks with the aim of putting an end to the Sahara dispute. They are expected to held a fifth round, but no date has been set up to now.

    Regarding bilateral relations, Mr. Wilks, who described Morocco as an "ally" and a "strategic partner", underlined that his country is resolved to further reinforce relations between the two countries, which maintain an open and deep dialogue on many issues of common interest.

    The British official expressed gratitude to Morocco’s efforts for boosting security and judicial cooperation, adding that both countries, part of the free world, face the same terrorist threat.

    Mr. Wilks also hailed the progress made by Morocco and Britain in the field of trade in the past years, adding that the reforms undertaken by the north African country along with its firm will are likely to help this partnership reach a higher level.

    British direct investments in Morocco reached USD 229Mn in 2007 against USD 125Mn in 2006, that is a 85% rise.