"We believe it is high time to find a realistic solution that is acceptable to all the parties, within the UN framework," said the Deputy Spokesman of the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in a press briefing.

    He recalled that in unanimously adopting Resolution 1813 last April, the Security Council had called on the parties to "pursue negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, without preconditions and in a good faith."

    The Security Council also called on the parties to show realism and a spirit of compromise to enable negotiations to enter an intensive and substantial phase, he added, noting that "the persistence of deadlock is in nobody's interest.”

    "We support the process underway in Manhasset to find a political way out negotiated between the parties" to the Sahara issue, concluded the deputy spokesman for the Quai d'Orsay.