The statement was made Thursday by Interior Minister, Chakib Benmoussa, who leads a ministerial delegation to inform the Spanish government of the progress of the autonomy project and the consultation process with the political parties and the concerned Sahrawi populations that led to drafting this project.

    Morocco's proposal consists of granting large autonomy to its Southern Provinces - the Sahara - to solve the north African country's dispute with the Polisario which claims the separation of this former Spanish colony from the rest of the kingdom.

    "This visit is at the same time natural and highly significant, Benmoussa said, owing to (…) the strategic and multidimensional partnership between the two countries.” He affirmed that the meetings with the Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, and with the Spanish Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos “took place in a cordial and constructive atmosphere.”

     The delegation, which includes Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs, Taieb Fassi Fihri, Minister Delegate in the Interior, Fouad Ali El Himma, and head of the Moroccan intelligence, Yassine Mansouri, affirmed that the debates that took place in the Royal Advisory Council for Sahara Issues (CORCAS), which represents the Sahrawi populations, constitute the basis of this project that remains open to the concerned populations living outside Morocco.

    “While respecting the fundamental principles of the kingdom, the autonomy project is in line with the regional specificities,” Benmoussa said, stressing that the project is in accordance with the international standards and meets the expectations of the international community and the recommendations of the Security Council.”