RIYADH — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was closely monitoring the list of coordinates and maps submitted by Iraq to the United Nations and expressed deep concern over violations affecting submerged areas adjacent to the Saudi-Kuwaiti partition zone.
The ministry said in a statement on Monday that the filing includes claims covering large portions of subdivided submerged areas.
The report noted that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait jointly own the natural resources in the area under an agreement in force between the two countries, pursuant to the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The ministry said the coordinates also violate Kuwait’s sovereignty over sea areas and elevations, including Fasht al-Qaid and Fasht al-Ayj.
Saudi Arabia reiterated that it categorically rejects any claims by other countries to rights in the divided submerged areas within its designated borders with Kuwait.
Saudi Arabia stressed the importance of Iraq respecting Kuwait’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and respecting bilateral and international commitments.
It also called on Iraq to comply with relevant UN resolutions, in particular UN Security Council Resolution 833 (1993), which demarcated the land and maritime boundaries between Kuwait and Iraq.
The ministry urged that reason, wisdom and dialogue prevail in resolving differences, and called for serious and responsible engagement in accordance with international law and the principle of good neighborliness.


