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| Arabia |
| Saudi-UAE border row haunts Emirati travelers |
| 2009-08-22 |
| [Iran Press TV Latest] Saudi Arabia says it will no longer recognize national cards of travelers from the United Arab Emirates over a map printed on the document, requiring a passport instead. The decision comes in contrast with a mutual agreement between the two Persian Gulf littoral states, allowing for UAE and Saudi citizens to enter the other country holding their national identity cards. Saudi Immigration Office chief Gen. Salem al-Bolayhed announced his country's withdrawal from the deal, saying the UAE map on Emiratis' ID cards did not correspond to the border agreed by the Arab states in 1974. "Citizens of the two countries wishing to move between the official crossings have to use their passports instead of their national identity cards," he said. Bolayhed explained that the decision followed Riyadh's "many measures to contain the issue by submitting an official memorandum via diplomatic channels" to urge the UAE authorities to correct the map. The UAE government has not responded to Riyadh's efforts made in that respect, prompting the Saudi officials to ban Emiratis from entering the kingdom with their official identity cards, he added. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, a federation of seven states, settled down long-standing disputes over their mutual boundary line in 1974 when they inked a borders treaty in the Saudi city of Jeddah. |
| Posted by:Fred |