Reactions of MPs E. Faucillon and J. P. Lecoq to the IRD – Morocco agreements (in occupied territory)
MPs Elsa Faucillon and Jean-Paul Lecoq questioned French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian and French Minister for Higher Education and Research Frédérique Vidal about two research agreements illegally signed by the IRD with the Kingdom of Morocco.
The first research agreement, signed by the IRD PALOC laboratory in May 2018, concerns archaeological excavations in the Smara region. The second agreement was signed in February 2020 by UMR 226 ISE-M, based in Montpellier, and the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Rabat, and concerns research on a wetland located in the Dakhla region. Both sites are located in the part of Western Sahara under Moroccan occupation.
The existence of these agreements was revealed by our observatory in July 2020 and they were obtained in May 2021 thanks to a referral to the Commission for Access to Administrative Documents (CADA).
Documents :
– Letter to Minister Le Drian : 22-03-07 – IRD – courrier au Ministre des EAE
– Letter to Minister Vidal : 22-03-07 – IRD – courrier à Ministre de l’ESRI
– A letter was also sent to the Presidency of the IRD, Valérie Verdier : 22-03-07 – IRD – courrier à Présidente de l’IRD
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