Dear Colleagues,
Truly, I was gratified by the number of you (14) who responded to my query about Maps and Boundary Disputes in the 20th Century. No single member is versed in literature for all the disciplines represented by the members of the Int-Boundaries List, so your generous help is one of the great strengths in our correspondence. I wish I could send each of you a thank you, but being pressed for time, allow me to broadcast my thanks to Anton, Barbara, Brendan, Brian, Buddhi, Charles, Chris, Cindy, Damien, Dane, Martin, Nasrin, Nuno, and Robin. Several of the suggestions were very fruitful. A couple of you requested copies of the essay on which I am working. I wish I could accommodate you, but the essay has been commissioned by the University of Chicago Press for inclusion in volume 6 of the History of Cartography publication. Therefore, it is a work for hire, and I am not at liberty to share it.
Although many of us are focused on Shatt al-Arab issue and the British sailors and marines who have been detained by the Iranian government, and hope for their speedy and safe return, there are other boundary items in the news.
According to Reuters, on 27 March 2007 Latvia and Russia signed an agreement delimiting their boundary.
Argentina reportedly abrogated its 1995 Joint Declaration with the United Kingdom on 26 March, according to Associated Press (30 March). The agreement had established a joint development zone near the Falklands/Malvinas Islands for oil and gas exploration.
According to Associated Press (26 March), Indonesia recently detained barges bringing construction materials (granite) to Singapore and has prohibited the export of sand to the island state. The Indonesian Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Minister stated that his government would not resume sand exports until Singapore settles border disputes with Indonesia.
The global warming affecting the Arctic has prompted several commentaries about territorial (Hans Island) and maritime disputes in the area. See, for example, Doug Mellgren, "Riches Await as Earth's Icy North Melts," Associated Press, 25 March 2007.
Regards and thanks, again,
Dan Dzurek
