Mr Khalihenna Ould Errachid, President of the Municipal Council and chairman of the Royal Council for Saharan Affairs after the signing of the agreement along with Mr.  Marco Fiorentino, Mayor of the City of Sorrento "This is the first twinning of the city with a foreign city, especially with a European city," noting that "the first meaning of this twinning is the recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara region, as the approval of the Government of Italy for twinning is written. "

The municipal council of Laayoune is behind this twinning initiative which will expand in the future to other Saharan cities. In this context, Mr. Khalihenna that this twinning is "a clear recognition of the role played by the city especially to confirm the Moroccanity of the Sahara." He also expressed his optimism about the signing of the twinning with the ancient historic city of Sorrento, saying that "it gives us hope for the future that we won the national cause at all levels, including the international collective level. This was the  culmination of hard work for the city of Laayoune in terms of global organizations dealing with collective local affairs, such as the World Organization of United Cities and the Organization of Arab Cities and Towns and the Organization of the Islamic cities and the Organization of the African Local Governments, in which Laayoune plays a major part " .
 
Mr Fiorentino, who expressed support for the initiative of self-rule in the Sahara that the Charter of twinning "will undoubtedly be an important pillar of economic relations, particularly in the areas of tourism and fishing, Sorrento Municipality has experience in the field of Tourism. The accompanying delegation of businessmen is seeking opportunities for investment in tourism, trade and fishing, because we want to increase our imports of these products. "

The twinning will open promising prospects for cooperation for the city of Laayoune with other European cities, especially cities that have relations with the city of Sorrento. It also opens the prospect of education and training to the youth of the South to develop their expertise in the tourism sector.

Negotiations between the two sides began in December 2006 and final approval by the Italian Government was issued at the end of March 2009 after being ratified by His Majesty in October 2008, the Charter provides for cooperation in all areas and consolidates dialogue between the two cities and the Mediterranean and Atlantic shores.

After signing the agreement, a message of loyalty and dedication was submitted to His Majesty King Mohammed VI expressing that the twinning means greater European recognition of the city of Laayoune as a Moroccan city enjoying national sovereignty. One of laayoune plazas has also been named after the name of Sorrento as an expression of friendship between the two cities. 

Source: Corcas
(News concerning Western Sahara issue / Corcas