WESTERN SAHARA RESOURCE WATCH (WSRW)
"Stop the exploitation of natural resources in occupied Western Sahara"
[Spanish, French]
The Western Sahara Resource Watch welcomes the fourth round of talks that
is
due to take place in the US on 16-18 March 2008 between the Frente
POLISARIO
and Morocco regarding the achievement of the decolonisation of Western
Sahara.
WSRW urges the Frente POLISARIO, Morocco and the United Nations to include
on the agenda of the discussion the issue of natural resources of the
territories occupied by Morocco.
"The Moroccan exploitation of the natural resources in Western Sahara
contributes to the perpetuation and prolonging of the colonial domination
of
the territory and the suffering of its population, and impeding the
resolution of the conflict", recalls the International Coordinator of
WSRW,
Javier García Lachica.
"Therefore", declares García Lachica, "WSRW calls on all states and
economic
actors of the international community to abstain from contributing with
their investments to maintaining the colonial situation in Western Sahara.
Abstaining from carrying out investments in the occupied territory of
Western Sahara is the most constructive way to sup****t the ongoing
negotiations process."
In the third round of negotiations, held in January, both parties decided
to
include on the agenda of the next round the discussion of a key issue in
the
decolonisation process: the management of the natural resources of Western
Sahara.
These resources include above all fish and phosphate. The European Union
and
the Government of Morocco signed a fisheries agreement that allows
European
fishermen to fish in the occupied territories. Fertilizer producers,
especially the US, Australia and Spain, im****t phosphate from the same
place. Two oil companies-the American Kosmos Energy and the Irish Island
Oil
& Gas-have hydrocarbon exploration licenses.
In view of the ongoing negotiations, the WSRW requests all the countries
and
companies involved to stop their investments with a view to sup****ting the
peace process, and urges the United Nations to put in place the necessary
mechanisms, in conformity with international legality, that would
contribute
to protecting the natural resources of the territory pending a lasting
solution to the conflict.
The WSRW is an international non-governmental organisation with members
from
more than 30 countries, which defends the respect for international law
upholding the decolonisation of Western Sahara and the sovereignty of the
Saharawi people over their natural resources. More on: www.wsrw.org.
For more information or comments, you may contact:
Javier García Lachica
(+34) 615 917 339 / j.g.lachica@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://wsrw.org/index.php?parse_news=single&cat=105&art=683
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Forwarded by:
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Norwegian Sup****t Committee for Western Sahara
*** Referendum now! ***
www.vest-sahara.no
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update
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