[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 156 (Tuesday, November 13, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H8037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             WESTERN SAHARA

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, the new king of Morocco, King Mohammed VI, 
seems intent on renewing conflict in Western Sahara. The King recently 
visited Moroccan troops stationed in the Occupied Territory of Western 
Sahara to celebrate the 1975 anniversary of the Moroccan invasion. The 
King initiated new oil contracts for Western Saharan land with American 
and French companies. The King of Morocco is acting as if Western 
Sahara is Moroccan territory.
  The 1975 International Court of Justice decision clearly states there 
are no ties, quote, ``of territorial sovereignty between the territory 
of Western Sahara and the Kingdom of Morocco.''
  The Sahrawi people love democracy and the American people and have 
rebuffed attempts by rogue nations to get involved in their conflicts. 
The provocative acts of King Mohammed VI could plunge North Africa into 
conflict and instability, a perfect opportunity for the terrorist 
extremists in Morocco to attack innocent Moroccans, Algerians, and 
others.
  Morocco's continued blocking of the referendum for the Sahrawis makes 
it quite possible that hostilities could resume. I urge the Moroccan 
Government to stick to the original agreements arrived at under the 
United Nations.

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