The director of the french Observatory of Geopolitical Studies (OEG), Mr. Charles Saint-Prot, said that the Algerian theories concerning the Sahara "are no longer topical" and that "Algiers obstinacy puts the region in danger."

The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commission in the French parliament, Axel Poniatowski, deemed on Monday "inappropriate" the initiative by a French communist MP to organize a conference on the Moroccan Sahara in the Palais de Bourbon on Thursday.

The Regional integration of the Maghreb is blocked in large part because of the dispute over the Sahara issue, said Eneko Landaburu, Director General for External Relations of the European Commission.

The Palais des congrès  in laayoune hosted, Wednesday, a regional preparatory meeting to launch the 2008 "holidays for all" programme in the three southern regions. 

 Visiting Moroccan Foreign Minister, Taib Fassi Fihri, held, here Tuesday, talks with German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, on the Sahara issue as well as on several points regarding the Middle East, the Maghreb, the Euro-Mediterranean partnership and the situation in Africa.