France wishes to preserve stability in the region

France wishes to preserve stability in the Maghreb and back the efforts made by James Baker, personal envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for the Sahara, French foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin, said on Thursday.

"France wishes to preserve stability in the region, backs the efforts of James Baker in the quest for a political solution and supports the action of the MINURSO (U.N. mission in the Sahara)," De Villepin said at the end of talks with Algeria's Minister of State For Foreign Affairs Abdul Aziz Balkhadem.

The head of the French diplomacy said that divergences exist between France and Algeria over the Sahara issue. He added that the two countries maintain "a close dialogue" on the issue.