Chirac reiterates support to Morocco's king over Sahara issue
Morocco-France, Politics, 10/20/2003

French president Jacques Chirac has reiterated his support to Moroccan King's efforts to reach a "realistic and lasting solution" to the Sahara dispute, in a message to the monarch at the end of his three-day state visit to Morocco last week.

France will "constantly support your efforts to reach a realistic and lasting solution to the Western Sahara issue, agreed upon by the parties," said Chirac in his message.

In an interview to MAP Bureau in Paris prior to his state visit (Oct 9-11), the French president insisted on a "political, realistic and lasting" solution to the Sahara dispute "which takes into account Morocco's interests and regional stability."

"We make a plea for a political, realistic and lasting solution that takes fully into account the interests of Morocco and the regional stability," insisted the French president who considered it "important that discussions (between the two parties) be carried on in line with resolution 1495 of the (UN) Security Council."

Jacques Chirac also admitted that his country, which supports Morocco's stand on the Sahara issue, has a different point of view from that of Algeria which backs the "Polisario," a separatist movement claiming independence of this former Spanish colony.

"French-Algerian ties are significantly consolidated. but we have diverging points of view on the Sahara issue," said Jacques Chirac who was speaking at a press conference at the end of his visit.

In his message to the king, the French president also voiced support to the reforms of the "Mudawana" (Family Code) announced, last week, by King Mohammed VI at the opening of the parliament, terming the royal speech the "signal of a considerable landmark evolution."

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan speaker hails France's commitment for world peace   (10/13/2003)
  French president hails lucidity and courage of king's amendment to family law   (10/13/2003)
  Morocco produces daily evidence that civilizations clash is not inexorable, Chirac   (10/11/2003)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search