afrol News, 5 May - The exiled government of Western Sahara yesterday asked the US oil company Kerr McGee to deliver to Saharawi authorities a copy of the results of its oil exploration in the occupied territories of the Western Sahara the company started since October 2001 to the end of last April, date of the end of its activities in the territory, reported the Algerian Press Agency, APS.

The Saharawi official in charge of the follow up of the oil dossier, Kamel Fadel, stressed that the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic favourably had received the decision of the US company to stop its activities in the occupied territories of the Western Sahara the company was undertaken "based on an illegal accord" it signed in October 2001 with Moroccan authorities.

Mr Fadel, also Polisario Front's Representative to Australia and person in charge for the contact with international oil companies, affirmed that Kerr McGee is further called to deliver a copy of its activities of exploration to the United Nations.

Kerr McGee announced last Tuesday that it will end its activities in the Western Sahara. As such, it did not renew the contract of oil exploration in the occupied territories of the Western Sahara, it signed last October 2001 with Moroccan occupying authorities, the exiled Saharawi government having condemned this contract.

The decision adopted by Kerr McGee coincides with the declaration by Pioneer Natural Resources oil company (Kerr McGee'd partner in the contract with the Moroccan authorities) of the stopping of its activities in the occupied Western Sahara.

Mr Fadel indicated that the US company's decision had been motivated by many factors, including the disinvestment of many of its shareholders, especially investment funds, but also the warnings of the Saharawi Republic against the signature of such a contract with the Moroccan authorities and "the plundering of the natural resources of the Saharawi people against their will."

Another reason behind the company's review of its strategy in Western Sahara was the signature by the Saharawi Republic, last Mars, of 9 contracts with 8 international oil companies, following a formula that considers the non-self-governing status of the Saharawi state.

On another hand, the Saharawi diplomat urged the European Union to take the example of the US Company, and exclude the Saharawi territorial waters from the fishing accords with Morocco.

In this respect, he warned that his government would make use of all legitimate means, including political and legal ways, to protect the Saharawi natural resources against all attempts of exploitation by parties in complicity with the Moroccan colonial authorities.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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