France renews backing to U.N.-proposed framework agreement on sahara

French Foreign Minister, Dominique de Villepin, on Friday renewed his country's backing to a United Nations-proposed framework agreement to settle the Sahara issue.

"This (Sahara) issue is very crucial for regional stability and we back the process started within the United Nations," de Villepin, told the second Moroccan TV channel 2M.

The French official underlined that the framework agreement is genuinely the solution that will help settle the issue.

The project gives the Saharan provinces large autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty.

"We wish to work in the coming months to fructify contacts and consultations to advance on the path towards a solution," said Villepin.

The official, who visited Morocco this week, had termed in earlier statements to the press the framework agreement as "the most realistic option" to settle the Sahara issue.

During his stay in Morocco, de Villepin was received by King Mohammed VI and conferred with Moroccan officials, including peer Mohamed Benaissa, on bilateral cooperation and other international issues.