Morocco said on Thursday it will receive the new personal envoy of the United Nations Secretary General to the Sahara, Christopher Ross, with the required interest and openness, but within the framework of the national constants.

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, voiced hope, here Monday, to see progress achieved in the Sahara issue during the upcoming negotiations.

 Costa Rican Foreign Minister, Bruno Stagno, said that "it is necessary that the parties find a solution (to the Sahara issue) within the framework of the United Nations, in a spirit of realism.''

A delegation of European deputies from different political groups in the European Parliament is currently on a visit to Morocco for talks on relations between Rabat and the European Union and the human rights progress achieved by the country, particularly in the southern provinces.

   Photo: Jose Carlos Iturgaiz Angolo, chairman of the delegation of MEPs, responsible for relations with the Maghreb

The project of autonomy presented by Morocco to settle the Sahara issue is an "initiative that brings hope" emanating from "real commitment" of Morocco for a final political solution to a long conflict that has undermined geostrategic and political stability and the unity of the Maghreb and the African continent," said Bakary Sambe, expert in international politics and Arab-African relations.