The mail below was sent from Total to WSRW on 14 May 2013. This is Total's response to our concerns over the company not seeking the consent from the Saharawis, and questions about what their future plans in Western Sahara are.
See further correspondence between WSRW and Total here.
Thank you for your letter dated April 11th and for your acknowledgement that you took good note of our statement posted on “Business and Human rights” on December 14th, 2012.
As far as other questions are concerned, they exceed our domain: Total, as an Energy Company, does not deem itself legitimate to have views on political or diplomatic subjects that belong to the United Nations and that are still being debated within the relevant international institutions.
On the contrary, our position is to abide by the existing international legal framework; while we exert our due diligence to have the best assessment of the environment of our activities, it is not within our scope nor competences to anticipate, frame or dictate which solutions should eventually be chosen.
You will therefore understand my refraining from further answering your questions.
Yours, sincerely.
One of the richest coastlines in the world
The fish stocks of occupied Western Sahara have not only attracted the interest of the Moroccan fleet: other foreign interests are also fishing in the occupied waters through arrangements with Moroccan counterparts. Along the Western Saharan coastline, a processing industry has emerged.
The CJEU Court Cases
Keeping track of the many legal proceedings relating to Western Sahara is not easy. This page offers an overview of the cases concerning the territory that have been before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
Tūhana human rights advisors ignore human rights
A consultancy hired to assess phosphate imports from occupied Western Sahara into New Zealand concludes there is no problem.
MEPs push back on Commission over Western Sahara in EU–Morocco trade
MEPs from across the political spectrum sharply criticised the European Commission over its handling of EU-Morocco trade relations covering occupied Western Sahara, raising concerns over legality, transparency and an apparent disregard for Parliament’s role.