Press Release
Tribunal Decides Maritime Boundary Between Eritrea and Yemen in the Red
Sea to Constitute Median from Coastlines
The Arbitration Tribunal formed to adjudicate the territorial sovereignty of
islands in the Red Sea and to delimit the international maritime boundary between
the two countries announced its second and final award on Friday, December 17,
1999, in London.
The Foreign Minister of Eritrea, Haile Woldense, and the Ambassador to London
from Yemen, Dr. Hussein Abdullah El-Amri, received the award. The decision of
the five judges of the Arbitration Tribunal was unanimous.
The main decisions of the Arbitration Tribunal in the second award constitute,
inter alia:
* "That the international boundary shall be a single all-purpose boundary
which is a median line and that it should, as far as practicable, be a median
line between the opposite mainland coastlines." The primary consideration
influencing the decision is the fact that "title over Jabal al-Tayar and
the Zubayr group and over the Zuquar-Hanish group was found by the Tribunal
to be indeterminate until recently." The two northern groups of islands
were therefore given no maritime zones at all and the Zuqar Hanish group was
given minimal effect. Eritrea's islands were, on the other hand, all given the
usual maritime zones.
* "It entitles both Eritrean and Yemeni fishermen to engage in artisanal
fishing around the islands which, in its first Award on Sovereignty, the Tribunal
attributed to Yemen. This is to be understood as including diving carried out
by artisanal means for shells and pearls. Equally these fishermen remain entitled
freely to use these islands for those purposes traditionally associated with
artisanal fishing--the use of islands for drying fish, for way stations, for
the provision of temporary shelter and for the effecting of repairs." The
Tribunal explicitly noted that "any administrative measures impacting upon
these traditional rights shall be taken by Yemen with the agreement of Eritrea."
At this juncture, the Government of Eritrea wishes to underline the crucial
role played by the French Government in brokering and making the Arbitration
Agreement possible with remarkable competence and commitment, and expresses
its gratitude for all its endeavours including its vital contribution to confidence-building
in the early days of the dispute. The Government of Eritrea also thanks the
British Government for providing its good offices for the effective functioning
of the Arbitration Court in its first session and the International Court of
Justice for facilitating the second session of the Court.
The Government of Eritrea expresses its pleasure at the manner in which the
dispute has been resolved on the basis of international law and the long-term
fraternal interests of both peoples and countries. In this spirit, the Government
of Eritrea expresses its deep appreciation to the Government and people of Yemen
for their exemplary contribution.
The Government of Eritrea reaffirms that it will be bound by all the decisions
of the Arbitration Court as it has consistently done so before and in accordance
with the provisions of the Arbitration Agreement signed by both parties on October
3, 1996.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara, 20 December 1999