Saudi Arabia reiterated on Monday that it “categorically rejects claims by other parties in the divided submerged areas within the designated borders with Kuwait.”
A statement from the Saudi foreign ministry said it stressed “the importance of Iraq respecting Kuwait’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and respecting bilateral and international agreements.”
It added that Saudi Arabia is monitoring with “deep concern” the “list of coordinates and maps submitted by Iraq to the United Nations.”
“The application includes encroachments over large portions of submerged areas adjacent to the Saudi-Kuwaiti partition zone,” the report said.
“Saudi Arabia shares ownership of the natural resources in the area with Kuwait based on agreements signed and in force between the two countries. These agreements are based on the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” the statement stressed.
“The coordinates also violate Kuwait’s sovereignty over its maritime areas and altitudes above sea level, including Fasht al-Qaid and Fasht al-Ayj,” the ministry said.
Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry said Iraq’s claim violates Kuwait’s sovereignty by placing areas of Kuwait, including Fasht al-Qaid and Fasht al-Ayj reefs, within Iraqi territory.
Saudi Arabia called on Iraq to comply with all relevant UN resolutions, in particular UN Security Council Resolution 833. This resolution demarcated the land and sea boundaries between Kuwait and Iraq.
The ministry called for “reason, wisdom and dialogue to prevail in resolving differences” and called for “a serious and responsible approach consistent with international law and the rules and principles of good neighborly relations.”
Qatar, the Emirates and Oman issued statements in solidarity with Kuwait.
