In interview from New York with the Moroccan 2nd channel "2M", Mr. Douihi stressed that Morocco continues to aspire to peace, entente and reconciliation "in respect, of course, of our national territorial integrity, for which we have made great sacrifices."

    "We say, not to the "Polisario", but to Algeria, which is a concerned party to this conflict, that war threats thrown out by the Front constitute an attempt to jeopardize the negotiations and peace process," he said, stressing that "those who call for war are irresponsible."

    He, however, affirmed that the hope to settle this issue is always present, noting that "it is this spirit, that of seeking peace and reconciliation which prevails within the Moroccan delegation, and it is the opinion they have voiced inside and outside the negotiations room, and which was also backed by the UN resolutions.”

    The delegations of Morocco, Polisario, Algeria and Mauritania take part in the third round of the UN-led talks on the Sahara in Manhasset, outskirts of New York, under the aegis of the United Nations in order to reach a final and mutually acceptable political solution to the conflict over the Sahara, a former colony that was ceded by Spain to the North African country in 1975 under the Madrid Accord. However, a year later, the Polisario, backed by Morocco’s eastern neighbor, Algeria, started claiming independence of the territory.

    The first and second rounds of talks had convened on June 18-19 and August 10-11 respectively in the same venue in accordance with the UNSC Resolution 1754 of April 30, which called on the parties to the Sahara issue to "enter into negotiations without preconditions and in good faith," with a view to "achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution."