US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, David Schenker, arrived on Saturday afternoon in the Southern city of Morocco, Dakhla, preparing for the opening of the United States consulate, an event that would happen tomorrow Sunday.
Schenker arrived in Dakhla as a second leg of a tour he started earlier in the same day in the Moroccan Sahara after that of Laayoune city.
According to the official Moroccan news agency MAP, upon his arrival at the Dakhla airport, Schenker was welcomed by Wali of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, governor of Oued Eddahab province, Lamine Benomar, as well as by the presidents of the elected councils.
In a statement to MAP, he stressed that the decision of the United States to recognize the full sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over the whole of the Moroccan Sahara "opens opportunities for closer cooperation" between the two countries, mentioning in this regard the prospect of a partnership with NGO's working in the field of education and training in this part of the Kingdom.
Before arriving in Dakhla, Shneker landed in Laayoune, where he visited the diplomatic quarter, which houses several countries' consulates. He also visited the headquarters of the United Nations mission in the Sahara (Minurso).
According to official sources, David Schenker will participate tomorrow alongside Morocco's foreign affairs minister, Nassir Bourtita, the opening of the US consulate in the city of Dakhla
