Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement outlining the two countries’ maritime borders, placing the disputed islands of Sanafir and Tiran within the kingdom’s territory, the Egyptian Cabinet announced on Saturday. “This accomplishment comes after hard work that lasted a long six years, during which time 11 rounds of meetings were held with the maritime delimitation committee between [Saudi Arabia and Egypt],” a statement from the Cabinet reads. The statement went on to say that the delimitation of the maritime borders relied on a 1990 presidential decree outlining Egypt’s basis of outlining territorial seas, which Egypt notified the United Nations of in May of 1990, in addition to discussions between Egypt and Saudi Arabia during the same year and Saudi Arabia’s basis of outlining territorial seas. Using “the most modern scientific methods,” the committee came to the conclusion that the islands of Sanafir and Tiran are within Saudi Arabia’s maritime territory. The agreement will allow the two countries to benefit from what each island provides in “wealth and resources” that will be economically beneficial. The bilateral agreement will be presented to Egypt’s House of Representatives, which will discuss its contents and…
Egypt Declares Islands of Sanafir and Tiran as Saudi Arabian Territory
April 9, 2016
