Iraqi Concerns with the Algiers Accord

The Khaleej Times reports on Iraqi concerns regarding the 1975 Algiers Accord which President Talabani first stated was void and then retracted his statements, but stated that conerns existed that needed to be discussed. Iraq’s deputy foreign minister Labeed Abbawi said,

"Part of the discussion will be on the Algiers treaty, we will discuss the border and try to mark it clearly. There are oil wells on the border and we want their benefits to be split between us."

Further, he stated,

Some Iraqi land was now submerged in water due to erosion and geographic change in the area. He said Iraq wanted to reach an agreement with its neighbour to begin clearing thousands of mines from Shatt Al Arab.

A little more research has revealed that the the edge of the Shatt al-Arab is where the Iranian military seized 15 Royal Navy personnel during 2007. Following the end of the war, the UK was given responsibility, subsequently mandated by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1723, to patrol the waterway and the area of the Persian Gulf surrounding the river's mouth.

Interesting.