Sahara issue settlement within Moroccan kingty key to Maghreb union, king Mohammed insists

Morocco's King Mohammed VI on Wednesday underlined that the Maghreb Union cannot be build on sound foundation unless the Sahara issue is settled within Morocco's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"We are (...) keen to reinforce our country's ties with its closest neighbours, first and foremost with our brothers in the Maghreb Union which, incidently, cannot be built on sound foundations unless the dispute created in connection with our southern provinces is settled through political and definitive solution, within the framework of our national sovereignty and territorial integrity," said King Mohammed VI in the Throne Day speech.

The king further stressed that "at the domestic level, Morocco has closed the process of the legitimate recovery of its southern provinces, and stands ready to do its utmost to defend its territorial integrity."

He reaffirmed that Morocco "will continue to respond to all goodwill gestures and equitable, consensual initiatives, to put an end to the problem created around this issue."