25.03.96
The ACP-EU Joint Assembly (Lomé agreements) expressed its
position about the situation in Western Sahara.
"The Assembly asked that the Kingdom of Morocco effectively implement
the international resolutions and the cease-fire and that it stop
hindering the preparations for the holding of a referendum. It
invited Morocco to resume direct talks with the Polisario Front and
asked the European Union to take account of the interests of the
Sahrawi people in all agreements concluded with Morocco. The Assembly
asked the Union to urgently provide the Sahrawi people with adequate
cooperation and humanitarian aid. "
28.03.96
Shell has formed a joint venture with a Russian oil company, Evikhom,
to develop fields in Western Sahara (Guardian, London).
28.03.96
The phosphate workers at Boucraa mines in occupied Western Sahara
continue their strike for six day. The Moroccan miners at the
state-owned Office cherifien des Phosphates had staged a two-day
strike on March 13-14 to press for better pay and to attract
attention to the poor working conditions of the miners.
29.03.96
The U.N. mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO) is preparing to scale
down its operation. A spokeswoman for the MINURSO says 35
non-military personnel attached to the voter identification
commission would leave El Ayoun starting March 30. This would leave
behind 55 civilian in El Ayoun to staff the 4 out of 8 voter
identification centers that would be kept open in case the dispute
was resolved.