Moroccos autonomy plan remains basis for settling Sahara issue says French official

French Secretary of State for European Affairs Harlem Désir. Image from Morocco World News

Rabat, (IINA) - French Secretary of State for European Affairs Harlem Désir said on Monday that the autonomy plan presented by Morocco “remains the basis for settling the Sahara issue. Things are very clear.”
The United Nations shall remain in their role to help settle this conflict, Désir told the press following his meeting with Moroccan Foreign minister Salaheddine Mezouar, Morocco World News reported.
Citing the expected report from the UN Secretary General and his special envoy on the Sahara, Désir said that “France expects a report which would help ease” the situation, noting, “It is the message that we want to convey.”
Partnership between the European Union (EU) and Morocco “is essential, strategic and absolutely vital for the future of Europe and the Mediterranean”, he said, reaffirming that France is “completely with Morocco.”
France is with Morocco in its legal action to enforce its rights, not only as regards the agricultural agreement, but also as regards the entire economic, political and cultural partnership between the two parties, he underlined.
“Morocco is a historic and essential partner for the EU. We achieve mutual benefits from this relationship,” he said in an interview with Moroccan daily “L’Economiste”.
The visit that the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini paid to Morocco March 4 shows the importance given by European institutions to relations with Morocco, he emphasized.
The EU-Morocco partnership seeks to support the modernization process of the Kingdom in political, economic and social areas, the French official said, noting that Morocco is the largest recipient of European Union (EU) funds in the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy with 1.4 billion Euros planned for the 2014-2020 period.
SM/IINA

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