FOCUS-Arbitrators split Eritrea, Yemen ruling
12:52 p.m. Oct 09, 1998 Eastern
THE HAGUE, Oct 9 (Reuters) - The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled on
Friday that disputed islands in the Red Sea were partly the sovereign
territory of Yemen and partly the sovereign territory of Eritrea.
Arab Yemen and African Eritrea, on opposite sides of the Red Sea, signed an
agreement in 1996 setting up the arbitration panel after mediation efforts
involving Ethiopia, Egypt, the United Nations and France.
Both nations had claimed sovereignty of the small, arid Hanish islands,
which lie in a key shipping lane. In 1995, the difference led to clashes in
which at least 12 people died.
In a statement issued from its Hague registry, the Permanent Court of
Arbitration awarded Eritrea the Mohabbakah islands, including Sayal Islet,
Harbi Islet, Flat Islet and High Islet, some of the Haycock Islands and the
South West Rocks.
Yemen was awarded the Zuqar-Hanish group, the island of Jaba al-Tayr and
the Zubayr group. The panel of five judges, sitting in London, also ruled
that Eritrean fisherman should be given fishing rights in the waters
awarded to Yemen.
``Further...the Tribunal directs that this Award should be executed within
90 days of the date hereunder,'' the court said.
Earlier, Yemen's Prime Minister Abdul-Karim al-Iryani was quoted as
claiming a Yemeni victory in the dispute.
A statement from Eritrea's foreign ministry said the nation would abide by
the ruling.
Ties between Eritrea and Yemen have improved recently, with the first
Eritrean official visiting Yemen since the clash in March.
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