from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subject: Morocco - Oil. Saharawi France US UN. jc Delivered-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: "aaron hoffer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Morocco - Oil. West Sahara, Algeria states involved. (JC. Morocco -another one of US client states. US Admin envoys and special persons like Clinton, Hilary Clinton, James Baker, Albright and all corporation OIL CEOs have 'stopped over' -to be rewarded by the King. Generally the King gifts some of Africa's gemstones, but in return there are things to do. He has obeyed the instructions of, and was supported by, US and France in 1975, to invade West Sahara -the then Spanish Sahara. A (CIA?)Paris assassination of opposition leader -Ben Barka, popular anti-colonialist, paved the way for the invasion. Thousands of ordinary but intelligent Saharawis fled into the desert. This is the continuing drama that their Polisario leadership still reveals to the 'Left' world via ARSO posts. It was/is desert land occupied by age old communities of Tuaregs, Moors, Tubus, Berbers -Arabic Hassania. It was also a sanctuary for Algerian, Moroccan, Saharan and Mauritanian rebels. West Sahara contains rich deposts of phosphates and one of the world's largest fishing reserves. US Aerial photography had deliniated oil reserves -admitted by Stratfor (below). The war with Morocco has been suspended, pending the arrangement of a plebiscite by the US-owned UN, which would allow the Saharawi to claim their historical desert. This is always negated by Morocco's intransigence and 'foreign' support. US Admins love these brutal positive guys. Bosom 'oil' pals US and France want oil with no costs, no price to pay for each ship-load as usual. The King cares not. He is busy with his torture chamber residents -Saharawi, captured soldiers and his corruption bags of dollars. Morocco -Another christian democracy?? JC) >Stratfor.com's Global Intelligence Update - 23 August 2000 >_________________________________________ > >We knew it before it was news. > >Europe's Coming Crisis >http://www.stratfor.com/europe/commentary/0008230010.htm > >China Declares Temporary Peace with Taiwan >http://www.stratfor.com/asia/commentary/0008222341.htm >_________________________________________ > >Moroccan Desert Oil - Miracle or Mirage? > >Summary > >Moroccan King Mohammed VI announced the discovery of one of the >largest oil fields uncovered in this decade. Estimated to contain >an equivalent of 20 billion barrels, the find could be worth up to >$800 million. Production of the oil deposit could significantly >alter Morocco's agrarian-based economy and foster stronger ties >with developed countries, including Europe and the United States. >It may also worsen relations with neighboring Algeria and spark a flurry of prospecting in the region. > >Analysis > >A startling discovery in Morocco's desert could dramatically alter >the North African country's economy. During a speech broadcast on >state radio and television on Aug. 20, King Mohammed VI announced >the discovery of an oil deposit estimated to contain 20 billion >barrels in crude near the southeastern town of Talsint. Located >just 125 miles from the Algerian border, the field could yield >revenues of up to $800 billion annually. > >If the government's claims are true, the find could drastically >impact Morocco's agrarian-based economy by providing a more stable >source of revenue. At the same time, oil sector development >requires investment, usually from multinational oil companies. This >could encourage stronger ties between Morocco and industrialized >countries, further boosting the kingdom's economy and sparking an >upsurge in oil prospecting throughout the western tip of North >Africa. But the deposit's location could also exacerbate tensions >with neighboring Algeria by encouraging exploration along the >border region. > >The oil find would provide a reliable source of revenue that would >lessen Rabat's dependence upon agriculture. Agricultural production >employs more than 50 percent of the population, but accounts for >only 20 percent of Morocco's Gross Domestic Product. The switch >would be a boon for the economy; which regularly suffers production >losses from drought. In 1997, Morocco's GDP fell from 4.0 percent >to -2.3 percent after suffering a protracted drought. Oil >production would provide a constant and predictable source of >revenue, even though prices are subject to the whims of the global >oil market. >________________________________________________________________ >Would you like to see full text? >http://www.stratfor.com/SERVICES/giu2000/082300.ASP >___________________________________________________________________ > >Oil sector development also attracts foreign investment, another >boost for the Moroccan economy. Few oil companies are involved in >Morocco's oil sector, and the country has only two refineries. In >order to develop the field, Rabat must garner additional investment >for drilling, extraction and transport. > >Attracting investment should be easy with high oil prices sending >producers all over the world in search of new fields. The kingdom's >good relations with Washington and Europe also make it a prudent >investment choice. > >The major obstacles to investment and development will be the >quantity, quality and location of the reserves. The government's >claim has yet to be verified, and there are several reasons to >doubt its veracity. For one, sedimentary basins in the country have >been explored before, and no significant oil reserves were found. >Second, the estimation of 20 billion barrels includes related >hydrocarbons as well as potential crude reserves. > >The proximity of the oil reserve to the Algerian border may also >hamper development. The two neighbors have often clashed over >regional issues. Morocco claims the Western Saharan territory, and >Algeria allows Western Saharan separatists to operate in its >country. >_____________________________________________________________ > >For more on Morocco, see: >http://www.stratfor.com/MEAF/countries/Morocco/default.htm >_______________________________________________________________ > >If the reserves prove to be of high quality or easily recoverable, >then the expansion of prospecting in the region could increase >areas of contention between the two rivals. Although the Talsint >field is 125 miles from the Algerian-Moroccan border, a further >search for oil may bring the two into competition. Underground oil >reserves can easily lie on both sides of a border. > >Another possible drawback is the obscure Skidmore Energy Inc. >Skidmore is the parent company of the Moroccan-based Lonestar, >which made the Talsint discovery. Earlier this year, Lonestar >agreed to invest $50 million in exploration and drilling in >Morocco, reported Reuters on Aug. 22. > >The Texas-based company may not have the promised money and could >have rushed the announcement in order to attract investment >quickly. According to the Texas State Comptroller's Office, >Skidmore is in danger of forfeiting its corporation privileges >because it hasn't filed its 2000 corporate franchise tax. > >King Mohammed's announcement on Aug. 20 was a public relations >triumph for the newly crowned monarch. Since the death of King >Hassan last year, the new king has tried to diversify the economy. >Mohammed encouraged foreign investment and instituted fiscal >reforms aimed at bolstering the country's erratic economy. If the >claims are exaggerated, the triumph could backfire and undermine >the king's hopes for the future of Morocco's economy. _____________ > >For more on the Middle East & Africa, see: >http://www.stratfor.com/MEAF/default.htm >_______________________________________________________________ > > >(c) 2000 Stratfor, Inc. >_______________________________________________ >SUBSCRIBE to the free, daily Global Intelligence Update. Click on >http://www.stratfor.com/services/giu/subscribe.asp >UNSUBSCRIBE by clicking on >http://www.stratfor.com/services/giu/subscribe.asp " JC _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
