Final decision near on Yemeni - Eritrean Hanish islands dispute

Final legal debates on the conflict over Hanish Islands in the Red Sea between Yemen and Eritrea started on Wednesday in London.

A source in the Yemeni delegation attending the debates said that these debates, which he described as the last in this conflict, are carried out before an arbitration commission specialized in settling disputes over Hanish Islands.

For this purpose, Yemeni Prime Minister Abdul Karim al-Iryani arrived in London. He was accompanied by a large delegation from the Yemeni National Committee. The Eritrean side is chaired by Foreign Minister Haile Weldensae.

The arbitration sessions held by a court formed of five international judges. It started works at the beginning of the current year. The court had decided to release its decision in May, but the decision was postponed after the court asked the two countries to submit additional information besides the already submitted documents and maps.

The court is expected to take its decision within one month after this week's debates. The decision will be in two parts: the first related to the geography of the conflict and the second on the property of the islands.

Then the second phase of arbitration will deal with sea border demarcation between Yemen and Eritrea with the support of expert technicians.

A source in the Eritrean delegation said his country will accept the decision of the court whether in its favor on in the interest of Yemen.