Serbian Foreign Minister's comments on the Sahara have placed the Algerian Foreign Ministry on special alert. Abdelkader Messahel went to Belgrade urgently to defend his country's position on this issue. On the 15th of March in Rabat, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić hailed the autonomy plan suggested by Morocco for the settlement of the Western Sahara conflict. «Serbia and Morocco share the same policy position», said the minister adding that in addition to mutual respect for territorial integrity, Serbia fully supports all negotiations and efforts for peaceful, durable, and diplomatic solutions to any conflict, under the auspices of the United Nations. During a working visit to Morocco, Dačić stated that «the two countries are mutually supporting each other within international organizations, as both are eager to see the issues resolved through dialogue and peaceful means». Faced with Algeria's angry reaction, Belgrade issued a communiqué on March the 20th, explaining that foreign media platforms have «misinterpreted» the comments of its foreign minister. In the same statement, Serbia recalled that its position on the Western Sahara conflict «remains unchanged and based on the international laws and UN Security Council resolutions». Messahel in Belgrade Four days after the release of this statement, Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel was urgently sent to Belgrade where he has met several officials. On Saturday, Messahel held talks with Ivica Dačić and the Western Sahara conflict was in the heart of their discussions. The Algerian diplomat reiterated the position of his country regarding the territorial dispute, said the Algerian news agency APS. He recalled that the province was «since 1963 part of the non-self-governing territories list by the UN», added the same source. Messahel informed his Serbian counterpart about «decisions made at the African Union» January summit, and which invited the Kingdom and the Polisario to have direct discussions. In Belgrade, Messahel met with the President of the Republic, Aleksandar Vučić, Prime Minister, Ana Brnabić, as well as Ministers of Labor and Agriculture. During his visit to Rabat, Ivica Dačić had expressed the wish to see Morocco participate, as a guest of honor, at the International Exhibition of Agriculture of Serbia.
