Udenrigsudvalget 2009-10
URU Alm.del Bilag 215
Offentligt
AttachmentFour Nordic Governments agree that Western Sahara natural resources mustnot be exploited without the consent of the Sahrawi people and if it not isfor their benefit
Sweden“The Swedish government’s position when it comes to understanding international law in this matter is clear.The area we today call Western Sahara, the former Spanish colony Spanish Sahara, is occupied by Morocco. Webase this conclusion on the decision made by the International Court of Justice in 1975: that Morocco has nolegal basis for its claim to Western Sahara. This means that Morocco has a duty to maintain general order andpublic life and welfare, and that Morocco has no right to exploit the natural resources in Western Sahara for itsown benefit.”
Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt, in the Swedish Parliament, 2007.This position has later been confirmed at several occasions, most recently by the Minister forAgriculture, Eskil Erlandsson in May 2010.http://www.riksdagen.se/webbnav/?nid=71&dok_id=GU121622&rm=2006/07&bet=1622Denmark“Taking the principles of international law regarding non-renewable resources from Non-self GoverningTerritories as a point of reference, it is the opinion of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs that suchexploitation should not take place, unless the profits of the exploitation can be said to be of the benefit of thelocal population.Denmark supports that the status for Western Sahara should be settled in a peaceful process under the auspicesof the UN, and that until the time when a final status is found,actions should not take place that are in violationof the local populations' interests relating to the resource basis of the territory.Even though the principles of international law and human rights are in general not directly binding for Danishcompanies, the Ministry will at all times encourage Danish companies to be aware of their internationalresponsibility.”
http://www.danwatch.dk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67%3Adenmark-warns-businesses-over-western-sahara&catid=16%3Aartikler&Itemid=1&lang=enFinland”Until the status of Western Sahara elucidated, Morocco should refrain from taking any action on naturalresources which are contrary to the interests of local people. Morocco canuse the Sahrawi renewable natural resources of the Saharawi residents' best interests and in consultation withthem, but should adopt a cautious approach to the exploitation of non-renewable natural resources.In the EU, the exploitation of the natural resources in Western Sahara has been discussed in relation to the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement. During the preparatory work on the agreement, which was decidedthrough qualified vote, Finland and certain other states, pointed to the fact than the Western Sahara territorialwaters not had specifically been excluded from the agreement’s area of application. Also for years to come,Finland finds it important that international law be respected upon the exploitation of natural resources inWestern Sahara.”
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Stubb, in Finnish parliament, 8 May 2009http://www.eduskunta.fi/faktatmp/utatmp/akxtmp/kk_332_2009_p.shtml
Norway"Morocco has for a number of years occupied Western Sahara despite strong UN condemnation. The [PensionFund's Ethical] Council found that [the US petroleum company] Kerr-McGee through its exploration activitiesmost likely will enable Morocco to exploit petroleum resources in the area. The Council regarded this as 'aparticularly serious violation of fundamental ethical norms' e.g. because it may strengthen Morocco'ssovereignty claims and thus contribute to undermining the UN peace process".
The Norwegian Ministry of Finances upon divesting from a US oil company involved inexploration in Western Sahara, 2005.http://www.regjeringen.no/en/archive/Bondeviks-2nd-Government/ministry-of-finance/Nyheter-og-pressemeldinger/2005/company_excluded_from_the_government.html?id=256359"Since Morocco does not exercise internationally recognised sovereignty over Western Sahara, Western Saharais not seen as a part of Morocco’s territory in relation to this agreement. The Free Trade Agreement is thus notapplicable to goods from Western Sahara".
Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jonas Gahr Store, 11 May 2010, regarding theEFTA-Morocco free trade agreement.http://www.stortinget.no/no/Saker-og-publikasjoner/Sporsmal/Skriftlige-sporsmal-og-svar/Skriftlig-sporsmal/?qid=46630
