At a joint press conference with First Secretary of the Socialist Union for Popular Forces (USFP), Mohamed El Yazghi, the French personality said the solution should be negotiated and mutually accepted by all the parties and endorsed by the UNO.

    El Yazghi said the Sahara issue has entered a new stage since the UN Security Council called for a political, mutually accepted solution, adding Morocco has positively responded to the UN idea in making a proposal on meting out an internal autonomy to the southern provinces within the Moroccan Sovereignty.

    Morocco has made a proposal on granting a large autonomy to the Moroccan southern provinces, known as the Sahara, as settlement to the dispute triggered in the mid seventies by the claim of the Algeria-backed “Polisario” to separate the provinces from Morocco, which retrieved them from Spain under the Madrid accords.

    Hollande said he is visiting Morocco with a PS delegation to commend the democratic effort of the kingdom that is « yielding results ».

    He said the international community has to work for a cease-fire in the Middle East and the public opinion should uphold dialog and diplomacy to secure peace in the region.

    Hollande said his party is poised to further relations between Morocco and France, adding economic, cultural and human exchange should be fostered between Europe and the Maghreb.