Bir Lehlou (liberated territories), Jan 9, 2014 (SPS) - President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz has drew attention of the United Nations Organization to the intention of certain foreign governments and companies to engage in the illegal exploration and exploitation of the natural
resources of Western Sahara.
In a letter addressed Tuesday to the UN Secretary General, a copy of its reached SPS, President of the Republic said that the US-based company, Kosmos Energy LLC, in cooperation with Morocco’s state-owned Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM) and the UK-based Cairn Energy, is accelerating plans for further seismic surveys and the drilling of exploration and appraisal wells in the waters and seabed areas offshore Western Sahara.
Secretary General of the POLISARIO confirmed that the ongoing exploitation of the resources by Morocco and complicit foreign entities “is in breach of the Saharawi people’s permanent sovereignty over their natural resources, and the sacred trust owed under Article 73 of the UN Charter to ensure that the interests of the inhabitants of a Non-Self-Governing Territory are paramount.”
He, therefore, added that it “run the risk of undermining a new phase in the efforts by the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General Mr. Christopher Ross to find a just solution that will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.”
The letter stated that neither company has sought to contact, inform or seek authorization for their activities either from the Frente POLISARIO or the Saharawi people, despite repeated correspondence with the companies concerned.
President, in relevant context, recorded “deep dismay” at recent efforts by the European Union to resume an illegal fisheries agreement with the Kingdom of Morocco which purports to grant licenses for the exploitation of the fish resources in the waters off the coast of Western Sahara.
He, in this respect, requested the Secretary-General of the United Nations to condemn these activities, which are in clear violation of international law, and ask all parties to stop the illegal exploitation of the natural resources of Western Sahara.
The letter urged the Members of the UN to fulfill their obligations under Chapter XI of the UN Charter, asking them to therefore “take any necessary measures to stop the illegal plunder of the natural resources belonging to the people of Western Sahara.”
If these measures are not taken, added the letter, then these activities “will further undermine the UN’s long-standing efforts to reach a peaceful solution that will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, as required by numerous UN Security Council resolutions.” (SPS)
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