Sahara Conflict Has Lasted Too Long, New Page Must Be Opened (French MEP)

The Sahara conflict has lasted too long, a new page must be opened, French MEP Brice Hortefeux said on Monday.

“I consider that the conflict over the Sahara has lasted long. We must now open a new page and everything that goes in the direction of a lasting settlement must be encouraged and approved”, underlined Hortefeux, member of the Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries in the European Parliament, in a statement to MAP, in reaction to the decision of the American administration to recognize the full sovereignty of Morocco over the Sahara.

The settlement of the Sahara conflict will allow a lasting peace whose impact can only be beneficial for the Maghreb, Africa and the Mediterranean region, said Hortefeux, also member of the Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean.

He indicated, in the context, that the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament “will certainly take into consideration this new stage (the American recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara) in relations with the Maghreb countries”, affirming that as a French MEP he will not fail to join all voices calling on the European Union to follow in the footsteps of the Americans.