Morocco says it is ready to listen to U.N. envoy's proposals on Sahara

Morocco on Thursday said it is ready to listen to all the proposals that will be made by James Baker, Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General, who will start a North African tour next week.

The Government of Morocco is ready to listen to all the proposals to be made by Baker and will adopt the suitable standpoint in this regard, Moroccan Communication Minister and Spokesman for the Government, Nabil Benabdallah, said.

The official, who was speaking to the press at the end of a weekly meeting of the cabinet council, said Morocco remains attached to the Moroccan identity of the Sahara and to any political settlement likely to consecrate the Moroccan kingty over the southern provinces.

Part of his tour, scheduled for January 14-17, Baker will visit Rabat, Algiers, Tindouf and Nouakchott. He will hold meetings with government officials in Morocco, Algeria and Mauritania as well as with the leadership of the Polisario front.

Baker will present and explain to the parties concerned and to the neighbor countries a proposal to find a political solution to the Sahara conflict.

The U.N. Envoy had proposed a frame-work agreement to settle the Sahara issue, giving the Sahrawis a large autonomy under Moroccan kingty.