Settlement of Sahara issue tributary of will of Morocco, Algeria, Tutwiler

U.S. former ambassador to Morocco, Margaret Tutwiler, said the settlement of the Sahara issue is tributary of the will of Morocco and Algeria to achieve more bilateral and regional political and diplomatic stability.

The Sahara conflict is opposing Morocco to the Algeria-backed Polisario separatists, who claim the separation of Morocco's southern provinces, known as Western Sahara. This former Spanish colony was retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid accord.

In an interview published Saturday by the Algerian daily "Al Fajr," Tutwiler said the conclusion of free trade agreements in the Maghreb region (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania) depends on the will of Morocco and Algeria to settle the Sahara issue, in order to achieve more stability and draw U.S. investments in the region.

The former diplomat is currently head of the New York stock exchange communication group.