French president voices 'total support' to Morocco's stand on the Sahara
Morocco-France, Politics, 10/10/2003

French president said, in Fez Thursday, his country totally and infallibly supports the Moroccan stand regarding the Sahara issue and the Kingdom's territorial integrity.

"France has adopted a position that is not hostile to any one, that is to support Morocco's stand for several reasons," the French president told reporters following private talks with King Mohammed VI on the first day of his three-day state visit to the Kingdom.

After he said that he talked freely and several times with Algerian president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika over the issue some days ago, Chirac renewed that France supported Morocco in the latest session of the Security Council held to draft and adopt resolution 1495. The resolution, he went on, provides for an essential element that "no solution can be imposed against the will of one of the parties."

He called for continuing negotiations and discussions with a sense of openness and understanding, and more particularly of cooperation with the UN Secretary general's personal envoy, James Baker.

The French head of state also hoped that "eventually, a solution will be reached and accepted by parties, notably Morocco and Algeria" insisting that in the upcoming session of the security council, "France will continue to support, once more, the Moroccan stand." "I have said this frankly and openly to the Algerian president," Chirac went on.

Previous Stories:
  French president: Morocco's choices will lead to economic development, social progress   (10/9/2003)
  France supports Sahara issue solution that takes into account Morocco's interests   (10/9/2003)
  French president visits Morocco to display support and encouragement to the kingdom   (10/9/2003)

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