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Gold/Mining/Energy : TLM.TSE Talisman Energy -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Greywolf who wrote (515)	10/26/1999 7:52:00 PM
From: Tomas	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1713

Canada threatens sanctions against Talisman over Sudan OTTAWA, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Ottawa on Tuesday threatened to slap sanctions on a Canadian oil firm operating in Sudan unless the company did more to help end the African country's 16-year civil war and curb alleged human rights violations. Although Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy did not specify who the sanctions would be aimed it was clear he was referring to Calgary-based Talisman Energy Inc. (TLM-T) , which has a controversial 25 percent stake in a south Sudan consortium. Axworthy also announced he had invited the leaders of Sudan's warring factions for talks in Canada to help end a conflict which has killed an estimated two million people. He said Canada -- worried that revenues from the oil trade were fueling the campaign by Sudan's Islamic government to crush guerrillas in the predominantly Christian south -- would send a team to probe human rights abuses in the country and the role played by private sector oil companies. He added that he would meet Talisman Chief Executive Jim Buckee next Tuesday to demand the firm did more to help broker an end to the war, encourage the Sudanese government to improve the country's human rights record and start talks with Khartoum to ensure oil revenues were spent on humanitarian aid. "Canada expects Talisman Energy to respond seriously and constructively to these efforts," Axworthy's ministry said in a statement. It said Canada was deeply concerned by reports of fighting in the regions of oil development and by evidence that oil extraction could be contributing to the forced relocation of people living near oil fields. "If it becomes evident that oil extraction is exacerbating the conflict in Sudan, or resulting in violations of human rights or humanitarian law, the government of Canada may consider, if required, economic and trade restrictions such as are authorized by the Export and Import Permits Act, the Special Economic Measures Act, or other instruments," it said. Asked whether Axworthy's comments were aimed at Talisman, a government official replied: "I'd say that was correct." Company officials could not be immediately reached for comment. Axworthy -- saying the sanctions could be applied against both companies and countries -- told reporters that Canada would not normally impose the measures without a decision or vote by an international body such as the United Nations. "I want to emphasize that those steps are at the moment in reserve. Our priority is to have voluntary compliance with the code of conduct and behavior and also to determine what the exact circumstances are," he said. Officials said the sanctions acts could be used to ban the export to Sudan of equipment and products needed by Talisman, which is Canada's biggest international oil producer. Canada has encouraged companies not to invest or operate in Sudan but has not banned them from doing so. U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright criticized Talisman -- the only Canadian company involved in oil extraction in Sudan -- over the weekend for its 25 percent stake in the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Co. group. Axworthy said the Sudan probe into alleged human rights violations -- including slavery -- would be led by John Harker, an Ottawa-based specialist in Africa and an adviser to the governments of Canada and South Africa. "I think it's important because there are Canadian companies involved that we determine this for ourselves. We'll see what Mr Harker has to say," he said. "It won't be the only source, but it will be a primary source. In the meantime we'll be having talks with the (chief) executive of Talisman." Buckee has often said that Talisman's involvement in the the country would help bring stability in the war-torn and impoverished nation by providing new wealth for such things as education and health care for the people of the south. Canada supports a process by a seven-nation African group known as the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) that has produced many rounds of largely fruitless peace talks between Khartoum and the rebels. Axworthy said Canada would would be offering C$300,000 to the secretariat organizing the peace talks and appointing Senator Lois Wilson as Ottawa's envoy to IGAD. ($1=$1.47 Canadian) canoe.ca

To: Greywolf who wrote (515)	10/27/1999 8:51:00 AM
From: Tomas	Respond to of 1713

Ottawa gets tough with oil firm over Sudan - Globe & Mail, Wednesday October 27 Promote human rights and peace or face sanctions, Axworthy warns Talisman JEFF SALLOT, Parliamentary Bureau Ottawa -- The federal government is threatening Talisman Energy Inc. with economic sanctions if it does not help promote human rights in Sudan, the war-torn African country where the Calgary-based oil giant has extensive operations. Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy said yesterday he is deeply concerned by reports that Sudanese oil-field development is forcing the relocation of civilians. He also said he does not want oil money to prolong Africa's bloodiest and longest-running civil war. "Canadians want assurances that the operations of Canadian enterprises are not worsening the conflict of the human-rights situation for the Sudanese people," Mr. Axworthy said, announcing the appointment of John Harker, former director of international affairs for the Canadian Labour Congress, as a special fact finder to investigate allegations of slavery and other rights abuses. Talisman, Canada's largest independent petroleum producer, is a partner in a major oil-field and pipeline-development project with the military government of Sudan, a regime that has been condemned by human-rights groups and branded by the U.S. government as a sponsor of international terrorism. The other foreign partners are the state oil companies of China and Malaysia, two countries also criticized by rights groups. Mr. Axworthy also named Senator Lois Wilson, former moderator of the United Church of Canada, as Canada's special envoy to Sudanese peace talks being brokered by seven African governments. Canada invited Sudanese foreign minister Mustafa Osman Ismail and rebel leader John Garang to come to Ottawa for direct meetings in the hope of restarting the stalled peace talks. Mr. Axworthy said he wants Talisman to use its influence to promote human rights and the peace process. He specifically called on the company to: Implement a government-endorsed code of ethics for Canadian companies abroad, which includes a pledge to promote respect for human rights; Publicly encourage the Sudanese regime to invite independent experts to investigate the human-rights situation in oil regions, especially where there have been allegations of forced removals of civilians; Launch discussions with the regime and independent experts on ways to verify that oil revenues go only to humanitarian and development projects and not to the military; Publicly urge the military government to put new effort into the peace process and invite outside experts to observe and participate in talks between the regime and rebel groups. The federal statement said economic and trade sanctions could be imposed if Mr. Harker finds that oil development exacerbates the conflict or results in human-rights violations. Talisman spokesman David Mann said the company congratulated Mr. Axworthy for appointing a fact finder because there has been a lot of misinformation circulating about Talisman and the Sudanese government. Talisman will help Mr. Harker any way it can to provide a "balanced and objective view," he said. The Talisman board is expected to adopt the ethics code and has already spoken to Sudanese government leaders about human-rights concerns, Mr. Mann said. Mr. Axworthy and his officials have been discussing the Sudanese situation with Talisman since March. The announcement yesterday caught Talisman off guard, because the company did not expect Ottawa to issue a statement until a meeting next week between Mr. Axworthy and Talisman president Jim Buckee. Mr. Axworthy moved up his announcement after U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said last Saturday that she was concerned about Talisman's operations in Sudan and would speak to Canadian officials about the issue. He denied that U.S. pressure prompted yesterday's announcements. Mrs. Albright said some countries have the mistaken view that investment in dictatorships will somehow help ordinary people when in fact revenues wind up in the pockets of the rulers. Two years ago, Washington imposed comprehensive sanctions barring U.S. companies from dealing with the regime. Canada imposed limited sanctions in 1992, cutting off trade credits and other government assistance to companies dealing with Sudan. The government in Khartoum is ready to co-operate with Mr. Harker and give him access to whomever he wants to see anywhere in the country, Sudanese embassy spokesman Awad El Karim said yesterday. He also said his foreign minister would be willing to meet the rebel leader in Canada. But no date has been set. Mr. Harker said he expects to have his report completed by mid-December but was unsure when he would leave for Sudan.