Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Discuss Maritime Border DemarcationSaudi Arabia and Kuwait started talks in the Saudi capital of Riyadh Tuesday on the demarcation of their maritime borders on a disputed gas-rich continental shelf in northern Gulf.Kuwaiti Oil Minister Sheikh al-Sabah and Saudi Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali al-N'aimi headed their delegations respectively at the meeting, the Kuwait News Agency reported. The talks will center on reaching an agreement on solving the dispute over the Al-Dorra gas field in the continental shelf which is also claimed by non-Arab Iran. The three Gulf states have been negotiating for years to work out a demarcation scheme, but no progress has been made so far. The row erupted again after Iran started drilling for gas in the disputed area earlier this year, triggering concern and protests from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Iran stopped the operations in May and expressed readiness to open talks with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to reach an understanding on this territorial dispute. Upon arrival earlier Tuesday, the Kuwaiti oil minister voiced optimism that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia will settle their border issue "in a good spirit and through cordial talks." As the Kuwaiti-Saudi meeting comes ahead of the proposed Kuwaiti-Saudi-Iranian meeting, likely to be held later in June, officials from both sides are expected to coordinate their positions on the thorny issue. The Saudis and Kuwaitis are also likely to discuss the date and venue for the tripartite meeting, Kuwaiti newspapers said on Tuesday. |
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