France supports "for a long time" the looking for a "just, lasting and mutually acceptable" solution "under the auspices of the United Nations and in accordance with the resolutions of the Security Council on Western Sahara," spokesman of the Quai d'Orsay Philip Elliot said Monday.

The spokesman of the Quai d'Orsay said in a press briefing that "France also supports the efforts of Christopher Ross, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to continue the negotiations between the parties."

He reiterated, moreover, the "support" of Paris to the Moroccan autonomy plan, "as it was presented in 2007."

Personal Envoy of UN Secretary General has just finished a visit to Paris, as part of a tour of Europe on the eve of the UN Security Council meeting, scheduled for late April to decide about the issue on the missions of the United Nations Mission for the organization of a referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

The visit also aims to further consultations on the last record of decolonization in Africa.

During his visit to Paris, Christopher Ross was received by the services of the Presidency of the French Republic and of Prime Minister and by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

SPS