Yemen may try arbitration to settle border disputes with Saudi Arabia

Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdul Qader Bajmal has said that relations between his country and Eritrea will return to normal after settling the disputes between the two countries over the Hanish islands.

In a televised statement he said, "Doubtless, relations will return to normal as fraternal relations of deeply-rooted history between the two peoples." Bajmal added, "We seek to find out firm cooperation between our two countries so as to ensure peace and security in the region as well as to establish good neighborly relations."

On Friday, the two countries agreed on the decision of the international arbitration committee in the Hague. It provides for Yemen's sovereignty over the Hanish Islands, which are situated in the Red Sea and the right of the fishermen of Eritrea to fish in its water.

Disputes over these strategic islands had changed into an armed-conflict in December 1995. The Yemeni minister asserted that the decision gives " Yemen full sovereignty on the islands including investment and economic exploitation."

Addis Ababa, which faces border problems with Eritrea, welcomed the international decision which came in favor of Yemen. The spokeswoman for the Ethiopian government, Saloumi Tadisi, said the decision "constitutes a clear message to Eritrea." Ethiopian dailies, meanwhile, highlighted the Yemeni - Eritrean conflict and the "defeat of Eritrea's government which thought it can by means of force get a decision in its favor."

On the Yemeni-Saudi border disputes, speaker of the Yemeni Parliament, Abdullah al-Ahmar, said that Yemen may resort to international arbitration in border disputes between the two countries. He added that "arbitration may be resorted to if the two sides do not reach an agreement in negotiations." In the meantime, both Riyadh and Sanaa are negotiating for border demarcation. Al-Ahmar said that the Taif treaty and the memorandum of understanding call for resorting to arbitration.