Exploitation of Sahrawi resources without approval is "illegal"

M’hamed Kheddad, member of national secretariat of Polisario Front, Sahrawi coordinator with MINURSO, declared Saturday in Boumerdes that the exploitation of Western Sahara natural resources by foreign companies without authorization is "illegal" and "negatively" impacts on a fair solution to the conflict. In a conference during the works of Summer University of SADR Officers, Kheddad said that partnership agreements concluded by the Moroccan occupying authorities with the foreign companies for the exploitation of the Sahrawi people resources are "illegal, notably those on fisheries with the European Union (EU) and deemed invalid as evidenced by the international community and the European parliament." The foreign companies "authorized to exploit the resources are responsible for the Sahrawi people sufferings," he said while stressing that "the continuation of this illegal exploitation negatively impacts on a fair solution to the conflict in Western Sahara."