Saudi-Iraqi neutral zone
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The Saudi–Iraqi neutral zone was an area of 7,044 km² on the border between Saudi Arabia and Iraq within which the border between the two countries had not been settled. The Treaty of Muhammarah (Khorramshahr) of May 5, 1922 [1] , forestalled the imminent conflict between Great Britain, which held the mandate for Iraq, and the Kingdom of Nejd, which later became Saudi Arabia (when combined with the Kingdom of Hejaz). The treaty specifically avoided defining boundaries. Following further negotiations, the Protocol of Uqair (Uqayr), December 2, 1922, defined most of the borders between them and created the neutral zone. [1]
No military or permanent buildings were to be built in the neutral zone [2] and the nomads of both countries were to have unimpeded access to its pastures and wells [2].
Administrative division of the zone was achieved in 1975 [3] [4], and a border treaty concluded in 1981. [2] [5] [4] For unknown reasons the treaty was not filed with the United Nations [2] and nobody outside Iraq and Saudi Arabia was notified of the change or shown maps with details of the new boundary. [2] As the Gulf War approached in early 1991, Iraq cancelled all international agreements with Saudi Arabia since 1968. Saudi Arabia responded by registering all previous boundary agreements negotiated with Iraq at the United Nations in June 1991. [4] Thus ended the legal existence of the Saudi-Iraqi neutral zone.
The Saudi–Iraqi neutral zone formerly had the ISO 3166-1 codes NT and NTZ. These codes were discontinued in 1993. [6]. The FIPS 10-4 code for the Saudi–Iraqi neutral zone was IY;[7] that code was deleted in 1992 [7].
The United States Office of The Geographer still regarded the area as only having an approximate boundary, rather than a precise one, with an estimated line being drawn approximately through the centre of the territory on official maps.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Office of the Geographer (1971-06-01). International Boundary Study: Iraq – Saudi Arabia Boundary 11-12. US Department of State. Retrieved on 2007-01-29.
- ^ a b c d e f Adams, Cecil (1991-02-01). What's up with the "neutral zones" near Saudi Arabia?. The Straight Dope. Retrieved on 2007-01-29.
- ^ Directorate of Intelligence (1990). The World Factbook 1990 - Iraq - Saudi Arabia Neutral Zone (mirror). Retrieved on 2007-01-29.
- ^ a b c Schofield, Richard. Arabian Boundary disputes, Archive Editions. Archive Editions. Retrieved on 2007-01-29.
- ^ Directorate of Intelligence (1991). The World Factbook 1991 - Iraq - Saudi Arabia Neutral Zone (mirror). Retrieved on 2007-01-29.
- ^ Law, Gwillim. ISO 3166-1 Change History. Statoids. Retrieved on 2007-01-29.
- ^ a b Law, Gwillim. FIPS PUB 10 Change History. Statoids. Retrieved on 2007-01-29.
