European Liberals demand termination of fisheries agreement
The European Liberal Youth demands the termination of the controversial EU fisheries agreement with Morocco that lets European vessels fish in occupied Western Sahara. Read statement from the Liberal Youth's annual Lymec congress, Barcelona 1-4th May 2008.
Lymec involves about 210,000 members from 59 organisations in 37 countries. Download the motion from the Lymec congress here, or read the statement below:
Stop exploitation of occupied Western Sahara
Whereas
The territory of Western Sahara has been under occupation by Morocco since 1975.
The International Court of Justice in 1975 ruled against Morocco’s territorial claim on Western Sahara.
Western Sahara is on the UN list of Non-Self Governing Territories and is considered Africa’s last colony.
Under the terms of the UN’s settlement plan in 1991, Western Sahara should decide its own future status in a referendum.
Noting that
Morocco has repeatedly blocked the execution of a referendum.
Human rights agencies and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights have reported grave and systematic violations of human rights in the occupied territories.
The people living in the occupied territories are subject to severe restrictions on their freedom of speech, assembly and movement.
Human rights activists and pro-independence journalists and editors have been arrested.
Observing that
None of the the income from the exploitation of Western Sahara’s rich fish and phosphate natural resources is diverted back to the people of Western Sahara.
The EU has signed an agreement with the government of Morocco that allows EU vessels to fish in occupied territorial waters off the coast of Western Sahara, in clear violation of international law.
The USA has specifically excluded from its free-trade agreement with Morocco all products that originate from the occupied territories of Western Sahara.
LYMEC – European Liberal Youth calls upon
The EU to terminate its fishing agreement with Morocco.
Morocco occupies the major part of its neighbouring country, Western Sahara. Entering into business deals with Moroccan companies or authorities in the occupied territories gives an impression of political legitimacy to the occupation. It also gives job opportunities to Moroccan settlers and income to the Moroccan government. Western Sahara Resource Watch demands foreign companies leave Western Sahara until a solution to the conflict is found.
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