Azerbaijan reiterates support for autonomy

The FM described the initiative as "very progressive"

Azeri Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, reiterated, here Friday, his country's support for Morocco's territorial integrity and for the Moroccan initiative for the negotiation of an autonomy status in the Sahara.
    Following a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Lower Chamber), Abdelouahed Radi, the visiting official described the initiative as "very progressive", recalling that its country, which perfectly understands Morocco's stance, faces a similar case.
    On Monday, the UNSC unanimously adopted a resolution calling for direct negotiations between the parties to the Sahara conflict, in response to the "Moroccan initiative for negotiating an autonomy status for the Sahara region," devised to end the three-decade dispute with the Algeria-backed Polisario separatists over the control of the former Spanish colony.
    Mr. Mammadyarov also said that his visit enabled him to ponder on means to develop bilateral relations, notably through visits between Moroccan and Azeri businessmen.
    As for Mr. Radi, he deemed “promising” bilateral relations, calling for strengthening these relations by means of a Joint Cooperation Committee, regular contacts and dialog between the two countries’ economic operators.
    The Azeri official had, earlier, meetings with his Moroccan counterpart, Mohammed Bennaisa and the chairman of House of Advisors, Mustapha Oukacha.
    On Thursday, Morocco and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on “Non-Visa Entrance and Exit of Persons with Diplomatic, Official, and Special Passports” as well as an MoU providing for the creation of a joint cooperation committee.