The European Union must be pragmatic in its Southern Neighborhood – starting from the Sahara and placing security and counter-terrorism at the center of its thinking for the region, said former Defense Minister of Italy, Mario Mauro.

The recognition by the United States of Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara is an unprecedented diplomatic achievement, said Monday in Rabat, head of government Saad Dine El Otmani.

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo announced the beginning of the process to open a US consulate in Dakhla, with the immediate inauguration of a virtual presence post.

The presidents of the regions of the southern provinces welcome the US decision to recognize the full and complete sovereignty of Morocco over the whole of its Sahara, said Wednesday the president of the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region, Sidi Hamdi Ould Errachid.

HM King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, addressed a message to His brother, His Excellency Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen, President of the State of Palestine, in which the Sovereign expressed His satisfaction with the content of the important telephone conversation He had with His Excellency on Thursday, December 10, which was marked by a fruitful dialogue and reciprocal interaction on the constant position of the Kingdom of Morocco on the Palestinian issue, and its permanent and continuous commitment to the defense of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.