In a motion, the undersigning deputies welcomed "favorably the Moroccan initiative to grant substantial autonomy to the Sahara," noting that this initiative "offers the chance to respond to the separatists claims, by securing for all the Sahrawis, inside or outside the territory, an important role in the authorities and institutions of the region while recognizing Morocco's sovereignty and integrity."

    The Sahara issue broke out in 1976 following claims by the Algerian-backed Polisario separatists to Morocco's Southern Provinces. The territory was a Spanish colony that was ceded to Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accord.

    On June 18-19, Morocco and the Polisario held the first round of talks over the Sahara, in accordance with the U.N. Security Council resolution 1754 that calls on parties to engage in direct negotiations.

    The talks, held under U.N. auspices in Manhasset, New York Outskirts, were inconclusive, and the parties agreed to meet again in the second week of August.

    The house of Common members also called upon the British government to “encourage all the parties to cooperate with the UN efforts, aiming to reach a solution to this geopolitical conflict that lasted for three decades.”
  
    The document was signed by 62 deputies who are members of the Conservative Party (opposition), 28 from the Labour (in power), 6 from the Liberal Democrat party and three from the Irish Unionist Party (Plaid Cymru), the social party and the Democratic Labour Union party, respectively.