Algiers, March 30, 2016 (SPS) - Algeria "still has fond hopes" that France will "really" help the region in settling Western Sahara issue within the framework of international legality, Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ramtane Lamamra said Tuesday.
"We still have fond hopes that the French administration of President François Hollande will really help the region in settling this issue, within the framework of international legality and in satisfaction of the United Nations doctrine in terms of decolonization," Lamamra told a news conference held jointly with his French counterpart, Jean-Marc Ayrault, following their discussions.
The minister underlined that Ayrault has been France's Foreign Minister for just a few weeks but Western Sahara conflict "has lasted for more than 40 years and is still part of our political dialogue."
"I am not a historian, but I do not deny that it (Western Sahara issue) is one of the main subjects of disagreement between Algeria and France in terms of foreign policy."
The United Nations, according to the Algerian Foreign Minister, is "at a crucial turning point, and maybe a decisive one," as the UN chief is about to present a report over Western Sahara issue.
Lamamra voiced Algeria's wish that the United Nations "takes the appropriate decisions so as the international community assumes its historical responsibilities regarding Saharawi people's self-determination."
"We believe that France would absolutely play a role that matches its history, its power and its responsibilities, by supporting a process that will allow the Maghreb to have a common destiny, with Saharawi people enjoying their natural right to self-determination."SPS
125/090/700