Thursday, November 25, 2004
Fact and Maps Online
Following publication and electronic dissemination of World Atlas 2005 of the National Geographic , a professional and renowned Society, there are some arbitrary changes in some geographical names in Persian Gulf, namely; adding the Fake Name Arabian Gulf in parallel, using Sheikh-shoeyb for Iranian Island of Lavan as well as Qeys for Iranian Island of Kish.
There is also an absolutely meaningless politically motivated, irresponsible, biased and offensive phrase in red color used for the three Iranian Islands in Persian Gulf Lesser Tunb, Greater Tunb & Abu Musa (Occupied by Iran – Claimed by U.A.E)!!!
Another clear disrespect to Iranian Nation and ignorance of international standards, is using a fake name for Persian Gulf!
The question is: what have been the ill-intentions to make such arbitrary changes against the internationally recognized historical and cultural heritage and the sovereign rights of a nation with a well-known long history of civilization?
Primarily, it was supposed that they may be unintentional mistakes, but unfortunately after the interview of Mr. Allen Carol, the chief of the editors of the Atlas maps with media, stating that despite using credible international sources like UN, U.S State Dep., Embassies in Washington D.C., and other organizations, this is the National Geographic Society that takes the final decision for selection of Geographical Names!!! The question raises whether the Sovereignty of states and their historical and cultural heritage is a matter to be decided over by any individual or organization arbitrarily??!! So what is international law for? What is the value of international custom and international treaty as the legitimate and recognized common language of international community? Is a scientific and cultural society competent to decide or compromise the sovereign rights of a nation?!
What does Mr. Allen Carol mean by De Facto Policy of National Geographic based on selection of the practically used names, irrespective of name or names used by certain individuals or groups. Arguably, War, genocide and territorial claims are also still practiced every now and then in parts of the world, but is the mere existence of any such practice in international community enough to justify its legitimacy and legality?! Nevertheless, Is the National Geographic acting as the world authority to judge and decide the right practice?
Does National Geographic Society consider International Custom as a certain individual or group?! Is the United Nations Organization a certain group or individual? Is the government of the United States and other states a certain group or individuals?! Then, who remains there to compose international community?
Mr. Allen Carol continues that the reason of using the fake name is that some countries of the Persian Gulf region have chosen and are using this fake name!
Is initiating and using any fake and illegal action a legitimate justification to change the reality and rights of others?! Moreover, is the National Geographic Society the competent international authority to judge and recognize the standard geographical names?! Does repeating robbery legitimize and establish it?!
In another strange argument, He opines that the other reason for using the fake name is to facilitate web search for internet users?! Is it really possible to ignore the rights of nations and justifying this transgression of rights with a simple explanation of facilitation of affairs?!
It was a totally unfair justification when he added that since National Geographic should satisfy all customers and interlocutors, there is no way but to balance the names!!! It is really regrettable that an institution violates the sovereign rights of a whole nation arbitrarily in order to satisfy his clients! National Geographic Society can satisfy his clients and customers on his own pocket, but not on others'. For sure it is a unique and unprecedented argument that is more like a humor!
Hereby, for the purpose of repetition of evident facts, we would like to have you review again some historical and legal evidences and let you know the weakness of National Geographic arguments, of course if explanations by Mr. Allen Carol represent the policies of national geographic society.
As is well-known, International custom and treaty regulate the relations among international actors as is recognized under the UN Charter. Here we just intend to remind you that with respect to the Persian Gulf, both international treaty and international custom recognize Persian Gulf strongly and clearly in a way that are not deniable at all.
With regard to treaty law, you can refer to all United Nations Documents and Treaties where you may not find a single case that Persian Gulf is named differently. Also, The United Nations with 22 Arab member States has on two occasions officially declared the unalterable name of the sea between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula as the Persian Gulf. The first announcement was made through the document UNAD, 311/Geneva on March 5, 1971 and the second was UNLA 45.8.2 (C) on August 10, 1984.
The Permanent Committee on Geographical Names (PCGN) has advised states to Use the correct term for the body of water between Iran and Saudi Arabia as the Persian Gulf.
In addition to the above mentioned, International custom clearly demonstrates that along the history, the waterway located between the southern Iranian shores and Saudi Arabian Peninsula, have been called Persian Gulf. All credible and international sources show this. You may refer to the following links just as a sample. Please let us know if you could find a single case that Persian Gulf has been called another way?
As just some examples of the international custom, you may have a look at all the following maps and find the name Persian Gulf.
Maps of the Arab World: 1998: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/middle_east98.jpg
Maps of the Arab World 1997:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/mideast_pol97.pdf
Maps of the Arab World: North Africa & Middle East 1995:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/n_africa_mid_east_pol_95.jpg
Maps of the Arab World: Arabian Peninsula & Vicinity:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/arab_pennisula.gif
Maps of the Arab World: Political 1981:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/persian_gulf_region.jpg
Maps of the Arab World: Muslim Distribution:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world_maps/muslim_distribution.jpg
Maps of Arab World: Political 1980:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/hormuz_80.jpg
Maps of the Arab World: Middle East and Former Soviet Union 1986:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/kurdish_86.jpg
Maps of the Arab World: Bahrain Political Map 1991
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/bahrain.jpg
Maps of the Arab World: Bahrain Small Map 1997:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/bahrain_sm97.gif
Maps of the Arab World: General Map of Iraq (2002- UN cartographic Section):
http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/iraq.pdf
Maps of the Arab World: Iraq Political Map 1996:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/iraq_pol96.jpg
Maps of the Arab World: Iraq Map ?ECIA ?E1993:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/iraq_rel96.jpg
Maps of the Arab World: Iraq Small Map 1997:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/iraq_sm97.gif
Maps of the Arab World: Iraq Country Map:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/atlas_middle_east/iraq.jpg
CNN 1998:
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1998/iraq/iraq.maps/forces/
From Conduct of the Persian Gulf War; Final Report to Congress, US Dept. of Defense, April 1992:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/iraqi_missile_dod_92.jpg
Kuwait Political Map 1996:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/kuwait_pol96.jpg
Kuwait Political Map 1991:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/kuwait.gif
Kuwait Map 1996:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/kuwait_rel96.jpg
Kuwait Small Map 1997:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/kuwait_sm97.gif
Kuwait:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapshells/middle_east/kuwait/kuwait.htm
Kuwait: Operation Desert Storm:
http://es.rice.edu/projects/Poli378/Gulf/CPGW_Images/cpgw_294.gif
Oman Political Map 1979:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/oman.gif
Oman Map 1996:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/oman_rel96.jpg
Oman Small Map 1997:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/oman_sm97.gif
Oman Country Map:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/atlas_middle_east/oman.jpg
Oman - Muscat ?EUS Department of State 1985:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world_cities/muscat.jpg
Qatar Political Map 1980:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/qatar.jpg
Qatar Map 1995:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/qatar_rel95.jpg
Qatar small map 1997:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/qatar_rel95.jpg
Qatar Country Map:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/atlas_middle_east/qatar_map.jpg
Saudi Arabia Political Map 1991:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/saudi_arabia.gif
Saudi Arabia Small Map 1997:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/saudi_arabia_sm97.gif
Saudi Arabia Country Map:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/atlas_middle_east/saudi_arabia.jpg
Saudi Arabia Dhahran map:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world_cities/dhahran.jpg
United Arab Emirates Map 1995:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/united_arab_emirates.jpg
United Arab Emirates Map 1997:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/united_arab_emirates_sm97.gif
United Arab Emirates Country Map:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/atlas_middle_east/uae_map.jpg
Middle East General Political Map 1998:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/middle_east98.jpg
Middle East Political Map 1997:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/mideast_pol97.pdf
North Africa & the Middle east Political Map 1995:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/n_africa_mid_east_pol_95.jpg
Arabian Peninsula & Vicinity 1984:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/arab_pennisula.gif
Persian Gulf Region Political Map 1981:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/persian_gulf_region.jpg
Muslim Distribution Map:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world_maps/muslim_distribution.jpg
Strait of Hormuz Political Map 1980:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/hormuz_80.jpg
Middle East & Former Soviet Union 1986:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/kurdish_86.jpg
Middle East Political Map 2003:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/middle_east_pol_2003.jpg
Middle East Political Map 2004:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/middle_east_ref04.jpg
Eastern Half of the Roman Empire :From East and West Though Fifteen Centuries, Volume II, by G. F. Young. Published by Longmans, Green and Co. 1916:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/eastern_roman_empire.jpg
Map of West Asia published by the UN:
http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/westasia.pdf
Map of Iran published by the United Nations:
http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/iran.pdf
Map of the Economic & Social Conditions of West Asia published by United Nations:
http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/maplib/docs/escwa.pdf
Map of Iran published by Encyclopedia Britannica and posted on Merriam-Webster:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/nytmaps.pl?iran
Map of Iran published by MapQuest and posted on HRW World Atlas website:
http://go.hrw.com/atlas/norm_htm/iran.htm
Map of Persian Gulf Region by Microsoft Corp posted on Expedia website:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/nytmaps.pl?iran
Persia & Afghanistan-1854:
map by S. Hall for possible listing on our website (published by A & C Black and clearly depicting the Persian Gulf and the area from the Tigris River in the West to the Indus River in the East from Baldwin maps)http://www.baldwinsmaps.com/maps/926.jpg
Political Map of the Persian Gulf Region by Latimer Clarke Corporation, 1998:
http://www.atlapedia.com/online/maps/political/Saudi_etc.htm
The Ancient Near East: Persian Empire 500 B.C:
www.bible.ca
arabian gulf does not exist. PERSIAN GULF is correct.
There is also an absolutely meaningless politically motivated, irresponsible, biased and offensive phrase in red color used for the three Iranian Islands in Persian Gulf Lesser Tunb, Greater Tunb & Abu Musa (Occupied by Iran – Claimed by U.A.E)!!!
Another clear disrespect to Iranian Nation and ignorance of international standards, is using a fake name for Persian Gulf!
The question is: what have been the ill-intentions to make such arbitrary changes against the internationally recognized historical and cultural heritage and the sovereign rights of a nation with a well-known long history of civilization?
Primarily, it was supposed that they may be unintentional mistakes, but unfortunately after the interview of Mr. Allen Carol, the chief of the editors of the Atlas maps with media, stating that despite using credible international sources like UN, U.S State Dep., Embassies in Washington D.C., and other organizations, this is the National Geographic Society that takes the final decision for selection of Geographical Names!!! The question raises whether the Sovereignty of states and their historical and cultural heritage is a matter to be decided over by any individual or organization arbitrarily??!! So what is international law for? What is the value of international custom and international treaty as the legitimate and recognized common language of international community? Is a scientific and cultural society competent to decide or compromise the sovereign rights of a nation?!
What does Mr. Allen Carol mean by De Facto Policy of National Geographic based on selection of the practically used names, irrespective of name or names used by certain individuals or groups. Arguably, War, genocide and territorial claims are also still practiced every now and then in parts of the world, but is the mere existence of any such practice in international community enough to justify its legitimacy and legality?! Nevertheless, Is the National Geographic acting as the world authority to judge and decide the right practice?
Does National Geographic Society consider International Custom as a certain individual or group?! Is the United Nations Organization a certain group or individual? Is the government of the United States and other states a certain group or individuals?! Then, who remains there to compose international community?
Mr. Allen Carol continues that the reason of using the fake name is that some countries of the Persian Gulf region have chosen and are using this fake name!
Is initiating and using any fake and illegal action a legitimate justification to change the reality and rights of others?! Moreover, is the National Geographic Society the competent international authority to judge and recognize the standard geographical names?! Does repeating robbery legitimize and establish it?!
In another strange argument, He opines that the other reason for using the fake name is to facilitate web search for internet users?! Is it really possible to ignore the rights of nations and justifying this transgression of rights with a simple explanation of facilitation of affairs?!
It was a totally unfair justification when he added that since National Geographic should satisfy all customers and interlocutors, there is no way but to balance the names!!! It is really regrettable that an institution violates the sovereign rights of a whole nation arbitrarily in order to satisfy his clients! National Geographic Society can satisfy his clients and customers on his own pocket, but not on others'. For sure it is a unique and unprecedented argument that is more like a humor!
Hereby, for the purpose of repetition of evident facts, we would like to have you review again some historical and legal evidences and let you know the weakness of National Geographic arguments, of course if explanations by Mr. Allen Carol represent the policies of national geographic society.
As is well-known, International custom and treaty regulate the relations among international actors as is recognized under the UN Charter. Here we just intend to remind you that with respect to the Persian Gulf, both international treaty and international custom recognize Persian Gulf strongly and clearly in a way that are not deniable at all.
With regard to treaty law, you can refer to all United Nations Documents and Treaties where you may not find a single case that Persian Gulf is named differently. Also, The United Nations with 22 Arab member States has on two occasions officially declared the unalterable name of the sea between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula as the Persian Gulf. The first announcement was made through the document UNAD, 311/Geneva on March 5, 1971 and the second was UNLA 45.8.2 (C) on August 10, 1984.
The Permanent Committee on Geographical Names (PCGN) has advised states to Use the correct term for the body of water between Iran and Saudi Arabia as the Persian Gulf.
In addition to the above mentioned, International custom clearly demonstrates that along the history, the waterway located between the southern Iranian shores and Saudi Arabian Peninsula, have been called Persian Gulf. All credible and international sources show this. You may refer to the following links just as a sample. Please let us know if you could find a single case that Persian Gulf has been called another way?
As just some examples of the international custom, you may have a look at all the following maps and find the name Persian Gulf.
Maps of the Arab World: 1998: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/middle_east98.jpg
Maps of the Arab World 1997:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/mideast_pol97.pdf
Maps of the Arab World: North Africa & Middle East 1995:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/n_africa_mid_east_pol_95.jpg
Maps of the Arab World: Arabian Peninsula & Vicinity:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/arab_pennisula.gif
Maps of the Arab World: Political 1981:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/persian_gulf_region.jpg
Maps of the Arab World: Muslim Distribution:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world_maps/muslim_distribution.jpg
Maps of Arab World: Political 1980:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/hormuz_80.jpg
Maps of the Arab World: Middle East and Former Soviet Union 1986:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/kurdish_86.jpg
Maps of the Arab World: Bahrain Political Map 1991
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/bahrain.jpg
Maps of the Arab World: Bahrain Small Map 1997:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/bahrain_sm97.gif
Maps of the Arab World: General Map of Iraq (2002- UN cartographic Section):
http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/iraq.pdf
Maps of the Arab World: Iraq Political Map 1996:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/iraq_pol96.jpg
Maps of the Arab World: Iraq Map ?ECIA ?E1993:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/iraq_rel96.jpg
Maps of the Arab World: Iraq Small Map 1997:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/iraq_sm97.gif
Maps of the Arab World: Iraq Country Map:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/atlas_middle_east/iraq.jpg
CNN 1998:
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1998/iraq/iraq.maps/forces/
From Conduct of the Persian Gulf War; Final Report to Congress, US Dept. of Defense, April 1992:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/iraqi_missile_dod_92.jpg
Kuwait Political Map 1996:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/kuwait_pol96.jpg
Kuwait Political Map 1991:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/kuwait.gif
Kuwait Map 1996:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/kuwait_rel96.jpg
Kuwait Small Map 1997:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/kuwait_sm97.gif
Kuwait:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapshells/middle_east/kuwait/kuwait.htm
Kuwait: Operation Desert Storm:
http://es.rice.edu/projects/Poli378/Gulf/CPGW_Images/cpgw_294.gif
Oman Political Map 1979:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/oman.gif
Oman Map 1996:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/oman_rel96.jpg
Oman Small Map 1997:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/oman_sm97.gif
Oman Country Map:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/atlas_middle_east/oman.jpg
Oman - Muscat ?EUS Department of State 1985:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world_cities/muscat.jpg
Qatar Political Map 1980:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/qatar.jpg
Qatar Map 1995:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/qatar_rel95.jpg
Qatar small map 1997:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/qatar_rel95.jpg
Qatar Country Map:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/atlas_middle_east/qatar_map.jpg
Saudi Arabia Political Map 1991:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/saudi_arabia.gif
Saudi Arabia Small Map 1997:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/saudi_arabia_sm97.gif
Saudi Arabia Country Map:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/atlas_middle_east/saudi_arabia.jpg
Saudi Arabia Dhahran map:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world_cities/dhahran.jpg
United Arab Emirates Map 1995:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/united_arab_emirates.jpg
United Arab Emirates Map 1997:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/united_arab_emirates_sm97.gif
United Arab Emirates Country Map:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/atlas_middle_east/uae_map.jpg
Middle East General Political Map 1998:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/middle_east98.jpg
Middle East Political Map 1997:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/mideast_pol97.pdf
North Africa & the Middle east Political Map 1995:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/n_africa_mid_east_pol_95.jpg
Arabian Peninsula & Vicinity 1984:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/arab_pennisula.gif
Persian Gulf Region Political Map 1981:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/persian_gulf_region.jpg
Muslim Distribution Map:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world_maps/muslim_distribution.jpg
Strait of Hormuz Political Map 1980:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/hormuz_80.jpg
Middle East & Former Soviet Union 1986:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/kurdish_86.jpg
Middle East Political Map 2003:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/middle_east_pol_2003.jpg
Middle East Political Map 2004:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/middle_east_ref04.jpg
Eastern Half of the Roman Empire :From East and West Though Fifteen Centuries, Volume II, by G. F. Young. Published by Longmans, Green and Co. 1916:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/eastern_roman_empire.jpg
Map of West Asia published by the UN:
http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/westasia.pdf
Map of Iran published by the United Nations:
http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/iran.pdf
Map of the Economic & Social Conditions of West Asia published by United Nations:
http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/maplib/docs/escwa.pdf
Map of Iran published by Encyclopedia Britannica and posted on Merriam-Webster:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/nytmaps.pl?iran
Map of Iran published by MapQuest and posted on HRW World Atlas website:
http://go.hrw.com/atlas/norm_htm/iran.htm
Map of Persian Gulf Region by Microsoft Corp posted on Expedia website:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/nytmaps.pl?iran
Persia & Afghanistan-1854:
map by S. Hall for possible listing on our website (published by A & C Black and clearly depicting the Persian Gulf and the area from the Tigris River in the West to the Indus River in the East from Baldwin maps)http://www.baldwinsmaps.com/maps/926.jpg
Political Map of the Persian Gulf Region by Latimer Clarke Corporation, 1998:
http://www.atlapedia.com/online/maps/political/Saudi_etc.htm
The Ancient Near East: Persian Empire 500 B.C:
www.bible.ca
arabian gulf does not exist. PERSIAN GULF is correct.
