Morocco's autonomy proposal offers the "best solution" to the Sahara issue, said Mayor of the Portuguese city of Silves, Maria Soares.

“Spanish penetration in the coasts of Moroccan Sahara 1860-1934 " is the title of a study appeared newly in "thèses" edited by the Institute of African Studies (IEA) whose author is Noureddine Belhaddad.

The Sahara issue is witnessing a "new momentum" thanks to Morocco's autonomy initiative, said, here Monday, Portuguese Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Joao Gomes Cravinho, adding that it is necessary to pursue dialog to reach a peaceful solution to this dispute.

The interventions of delegations during the works of the UN 4th Commission, continued last Friday in New York, focused on the Sahara issue. Several African countries have strongly encouraged the Moroccan autonomy initiative in the region as an essential basis for negotiations to end the conflict that has lasted too long.  

 Spain voiced, here Thursday, its confidence over the success of the UN-led Sahara talks in Manhasset and its efforts to find a lasting solution that is acceptable to both parties.