Morocco ready to cooperate with the UN

Morocco's King Mohammed VI reiterated on Monday Morocco's readiness to fully cooperate, within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty and the respect of its territorial integrity, with the UN and other parties to reach a negotiated political solution to the Sahara conflict.

The king, who received Alvaro de Soto, special representative of UN Secretary General for the Sahara issue, congratulated de Soto on the trust he enjoys with Kofi Annan in pursuing with the parties and neighbor countries a lasting political solution to the issue acceptable by all.

Alvaro de Soto told the press at the end of the meeting with the king the goal of his tour to the region is to get informed on the current situation with the parties and see "what could be done to overcome difficulties."

De Soto also said he reviewed with the king the Sahara issue, adding other meeting could follow and recalling this is the first visit to the region since he was assigned to the mission by Annan.

The UN official will also visit Tindouf on September 12 as well as Algeria and Mauritania.