Oil potential could provide catalyst for change: the thorny issue of sovereignty has hampered the development of the Western Sahara for decades. But the possibility of large untapped oil reserves could force imminent change. (Western Sahara).

From: The Middle East | Date: January 1, 2003| Author: | Copyright information

The fate of the Western Sahara has reappeared on the international agenda over the past year, following the signing of offshore oil exploration agreements and United Nations' proclamations on the subject. The Moroccan government has decided to bypass the issue of sovereignty by assuming territorial ownership, rather than pushing for international recognition. During the first half of 2002, the Moroccan government awarded 12-month exploration contracts to US firm Kerr-McGee, for a 110,000 square kilometre licence off the northern coast, and to French major TotalFinaElf, for a ...

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