The UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, has affirmed that he "continues to work very closely with all the parties concerned" on the issue of the Sahara. Mr. Annan indicated that he had raised this question during his recent meeting with French President, Mr. Jacques Chirac, and added that the organization would need to appoint another representative "very soon."
<i>Bladi.Net</i> reports that following his lunch with the French President and British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, Annan affirmed again that the UN and its partners would all continue to be "in contact with all the parties involved."