Sahara: France highlights need to carry on dialogue between Morocco, Algeria
France highlighted Friday the need for Morocco and Algeria to carry on dialogue to reach a "negotiated settlement" to the Sahara question.
Algeria is a main party in the Sahara conflict, notably because of its support to the separatist group 'Polisario' that is claiming the independence of the Sahara. This territory was formerly occupied by Spain and retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid agreements.
"Dialogue should continue to reach a negotiated solution. France's standpoint has not changed but we are in contact with different partners, particularly Morocco and Algeria," spokesman of the French foreign affairs ministry, Herve Ladsous told a press conference.
On the three-month extension of the United Nations mission in the Sahara, as announced early this week by the UN secretary general, Ladsous said "this question should be debated in the Security Council."
