Bahrain's ownership of islands upheld

By Kesava Menon

MANAMA (BAHRAIN), MARCH. 17 A ruling by the International Court of Justice yesterday sustaining Bahrain's ownership of a group of islands has raised expectations of a prosperous future among the residents of this country. Paradoxically, the ruling has also raised hopes of improved relations with the neighbouring emirate of Qatar which had challenged Bahrain's control over the Hawar islands before the International Court.

While the Court upheld a 1939 decision by the then colonial power, the United kingdom, awarding the Hawar islands to Bahrain, it rejected Bahrain's further claim to sovereignty over Zubarah enclave on the Qatar mainland. The court also accorded sovereignty over a smaller island to Qatar and upheld its right to free navigation through the waters between the Hawar islands. Both emirates have welcomed the decision, promised to abide by it and declared that the disputes were now ended. Both the Governments also declared today a holiday in celebration.

The territorial dispute between the two emirates has its origin in colonial times and the movements of people in areas that sustained mainly pearl diving and fisheries till the discovery of oil. Before the turn of the last century, the ruling al Khalifa family of Bahrain controlled the main archipelago of Bahrain, the Hawar islands and the slice of the north western portion of the Qatar peninsula called the Zubarah bloc. At that point of time, the al Thani family that rules Qatar today was based mainly on the eastern part of the peninsula. Over time the al Thanis were able to extend their power and a 1913 Anglo- Ottoman Convention acknowledged that the Qatar ruling family had suzerainty over the Zubarah bloc.

Bahrain and Qatar had concluded exclusive protection agreements with the U.K. in 1892 and 1916 respectively and both were granted independence in 1971. In 1939 the U.K. had ruled that Bahrain had suzerainty over the Hawar islands. Disputes rose between the two emirates over the granting of concessions to oil companies and in 1991 Qatar took the case to the International Court over-ruling Bahrain's objections that the matter be settled bilaterally. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had sought to mediate but gave up these efforts two years ago when Qatar persisted with its litigation before the International Court.

With the Court awarding it the small island, Qatar will be able to consolidate its hold over the northern fields which is one of the main depositories of the natural gas reserves that have been discovered in recent years. While the Court's reaffirmation of its rights to the Hawar islands is important from the point of view of Bahrain's economy, it is uncertain whether the monetary value is commensurate.

Bahrain's Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa, in a broadcast to the nation last night, called upon drilling companies that stopped their activities in the Bahrain off-shore on account of the uncertainty to resume their operations. In the context it would appear that Bahrain has hopes that reserves of natural gas if not oil will be discovered in the vicinity of the Hawar islands.

Even if such discoveries are not made the decision is still of significance of the Bahrain economy. If Qatar had been awarded the islands, Bahrain's shipping, fisheries and pearl diving industry (in decline though it is) would have been affected. More importantly, the Hawar islands have great potential for being developed as a tourist resort.

These islands are a great haven for migratory birds and the Bahrain government hopes that they will be able to develop eco- tourism in a major way. In any case the islands have already become a fledgling beach resort but plans to develop this sector further have been stalled on account of the dispute with Qatar.

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Section  : International
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