Morocco accepted to negotiate, with the necessary flexibility, on the basis of this agreement in order to find a lasting solution to this regional dispute.

Unfortunately Algeria and Polisario ignored resolution 1359 and refused the negotiation proposed by the Secretary General. Worse still, they have afterwards initiated the idea of partition of the territory, a danger for the stability of the whole region, with the obvious aim to impede the process of a political solution.Indeed, in his report dated 19 February 2002, the Secretary General said that the Algerian President reiterated to him, on 2 November 2001, that "Algeria and the Polisario would be prepared to discuss or negotiate a division of the Territory as a political solution to the dispute over Western Sahara.

"The same report noted that Morocco, while rejecting the idea of division, showed flexibility towards the Draft Framework Agreement (paragraph 40).By its resolution 1429 of July 30th, 2002, the Security Council requested M. James Baker to propose, before the end of January 2003, a political solution and a framework for negotiation in order to reach a peaceful and lasting settlement of this dispute.The Security Council did not fail to underline the depth of the divergences over the settlement Plan while stating, for the first time, that the absence of a solution "obstructs the economic development of the Maghreb region" and that "the search for political solution is critically needed".

Following the adoption of this resolution, the Government of Morocco "reiterates its willingness to continue its cooperation with the Secretary General of the UN and his Personal Envoy as well as with the Security Council in order to put an end to this long-lasting dispute".