Workshop on natural resources of Western Sahara | Sahara Press Service

Mon, 06/25/2012 - 4:29pm   Tags:

• Western Sahara

Shaheed Al Hafed (refugee camps), June 25, 2012 (SPS) - A workshop on Western Sahara natural resources presented Monday morning at headquarters of the Saharawi Workers Union (UGSARIO), Saharawi refugee camps, by Erik Hagen from Western Sahara Resource Watch and Director of the Norwegian Support Commitee for Western Sahara, in collaboration with the Saharawi Students Union (UESARIO).

Erik Hagen gave a gizzard on the most important natural resources in the territories of Western Sahara such as oil, phosphate, gas, and various fish, pointing to the systematic plunder and depletion of natural resources of Western Sahara by Morocco.

He also gave detailed explanation about of the international companies that illegally exploit the natural resources of Western Sahara, referring to the large revenues earned by these companies through the looting of Saharawi wealth.

The Norwegian reveled that Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), established under the 2007 Kyoto protocol to promote clean development in developing countries, is now considering an application to finance the construction of the Wind Farm Project in the region of Foum El Oued. In addition to a Project Development Document details the proposed construction and operation of forty-four 2.3 megawatt turbines in the occupied city of El Aaiun.

He added that this CDM is now considering to finance the King of Morocco’s personal companies doing business in the occupied territory of Western Sahara.
The expert on Saharawi natural resources emphasized on the need to give special importance for the topic of natural resources, because it is one of the fronts of conflict with Moroccan Kingdom.

It is noteworthy that a Norwegian delegation including Erik Hagen, President of Norwegian-Saharawi Friendship Association and Member of Western Sahara Resource Watch, Himanshu Gulati, President of Progress Party’s Youth, Ingrid Rostad, Vice-President of the Solidarity Youth of the Norwegian People's Aid, and Kyle André Hagen, Vice-president of the Youth League of the Union of Social Educators and Social Workers of Norway, arrived last Thursday in the Saharawi refugee camps.

They made many visits to national institutions and to the Moroccan Wall of Shame that divides Western Sahara. They met with high Saharawi seniors. And it is expected that they meet the President Mohamed Abdelaziz and Prime Minister Abdelkader Taleb Omar. (SPS)

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