ARAB-IRANIAN RELATIONS - July 28 - Iraq opposes Border Talks.

Iraq says it will not recognise any deal reached between Iran and Kuwait over their maritime border. (On July 26, Iran and Kuwait said they had agreed to resume talks in September to resolve a territorial dispute in the northern Gulf.) An Iraqi foreign ministry spokesman says in a statement: "Iraq affirms it will not recognise any agreement that does not take into consideration Iraq's legitimate rights in accordance with principles of international law". Baghdad had it would not recognise the border deal reached between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait early July. (The latest exchanges come 10 years after Iraqi-Kuwaiti talks in Saudi Arabia failed to resolve a land border dispute, oil policy differences and other rows. On Aug. 2, 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait, annexed it and occupied it for 7 months.)

The spokesman says any demarcation of the border had to be done through an agreement between all the countries that have the rights to explore and utilise natural resources of the maritime border. (The border disputes resurfaced earlier 2000 when Iran started drilling for gas in Al Dorra offshore field, which is claimed by all 3 OPEC states. The drilling then stopped following protests by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and plans for tripartite and bilateral talks were announced in an attempt to divide the hydrocarbon riches in the area after decades of differences.)