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SPS
SADR/NATURAL RESOURCES/OFFER
SADR launches an international Oil & Gas Licence Offering for the exploitation of 12 Oil and Gas blocks in Western Sahara

17.05.05

London, 17/05/2005 (SPS) Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) launched on Tuesday in London an international Oil & Gas Licence Offering for exploration and exploitation in 12 zones offshore Western Sahara.

During a press conference, held on Tuesday in London with the presence of representative of the diplomatic corps of countries concerned with the signature of contracts with SADR, Mr. MHamed Khaddad, Saharawi Coordinator with the UN’s Mission to Western Sahara (MINURSO), indicated that this proposition to international concurrence is opened until next October the 17 of the current year.

This invitation, he said, "concerns 12 blocs off-shore, especially Tah, Daoura, Amgala, Haouza, Farsia, Mahbes, Imlili, Guelta, Jraifia, Mijek, Zoug and Leguera."

The Saharawi diplomat underlined that SADR’s decision intervenes after oil exploration undertaken by the Australian company "Fusion Oil and Gas" in the Saharawi offshore.

By adopting this oil policy that targets the future, the Saharawi leadership bets on the unavoidable independence, it was indicated. It was also said that the choice of London to declare this decision of opening its territorial waters to oil exploration, is not accidental since the British capital is an influencing party on the international oil market.

Asked about the feasibility of the signature of contracts with oil companies, especially that Western Sahara is still partially occupied, Mr. Khaddad said that the signatures of contracts would be undertaken following two forms.

"The first will be done conforming to an accord on the distribution of the products, which will be enforced exactly with the settlement of the Saharawi question and SADR’s adherence to the UN as a fully sovereign State on its territory and natural resources".

The second formula consists in "an accord of guarantee that would cover the period of the signature of the contract and its enforcement once the national sovereignty recovered and independence realised". This ambitious formula was favourably received by many oil companies, it was indicated.

The Saharawi diplomat affirmed that any exploration contract on Western Sahara natural resources that is not contracted with SADR is an illegal contract agreed upon with an occupying power, whose sovereignty on the territory is recognised by no country world wide.

Khaddad put forward as a proof the UN legal opinion, which estimated last January 2002, that "Morocco has no sovereignty on Western Sahara, and thus, has got no right as far as the international law is concerned, to conclude deals with international companies to exploit the natural resources of this occupied territory".

Many companies, it was said, show readiness to sign contracts with the Saharawi party according to the two proposed formulas, declared Mr. Khaddad, estimating that this is an assertion that the end of the conflict passes through the independence of the Saharawi people, especially that all the features proves the pointlessness of the Moroccan approach. (SPS)

060/090/000 171540 MAI 05 SPS

Note: For more information on the subject see the new Web Site launched today by SADR.

SPS
SADR/NATURAL RESOURCES
The initiative of providing Licensing to international Oil companies is in accordance with the international law estimates SADR

London, 17/05/2005 (SPS) the Government of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), declared in a press release publicised Tuesday in London that its initiative of commencement of Oil and Gas Licence Offering for international companies is in full accordance with international law.

"The SADR is a member of the African Union (AU) and is the sovereign authority for the territory referred to as Western Sahara. The Polisario Front is internationally recognised as the representative of the Saharawi people", underlined the press release. This gives the Saharawi Government full right to manage the natural resources of the country.

This initiative, which is opened to al concerned international companies, "has been arranged in accordance with the UN legal opinion regarding commercial activities in Western Sahara", which estimated last January 2002 that "Morocco has no sovereignty on Western Sahara, and thus, has got no right as far as the international law is concerned, to conclude deals with international companies to exploit the natural resources of this occupied territory".

This action also intervenes "in preparation for the full recovery of all our territory, as the UN mediation process progresses towards a lasting solution to the conflict between the SADR and Morocco", wrote the text.

On another hand, SADR’s Government criticised the presence in the zone of the American companies, Kerr McGee, which attempts to undertake offshore exploration in Western Sahara "under an agreement that is in contravention of the intent of the UN legal opinion".

In this respect SADR declared that it will "consider all options to deter any such illegal and provocative action".

Moreover, the Saharawi Government that "has always respected international law", calls all international companies "to participate in this licensing initiative", granting them full respect of its obligations once contracted. (SPS)

060/090/100 171620 MAI 05 SPS

Visit the new Saharawi Web Site on Natural Resources in Western Sahara

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