The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen have signed a protocol agreement designed to contain recent escalation on border issues between the two countries.  The protocol, which was signed in Sana'a yesterday by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and Yemeni Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdul-Qader Bajamal, confirms but does not amend the [1934] Taif Treaty, the [1995] memorandum of understanding and their annexes.

The protocol states that the two parties have agreed on the following schedule:

• The land border demarcation committee, which was assigned to fix landmarks for the border from Mount Al-Thar to Ras Al-Miewaj as described in the Taif Treaty, the memorandum of understanding, and their annexes, is to meet within two months.
• The joint military committee is to meet on August 4, 1998 to discuss the status of Al-Dweima Island in accordance with the agreement reached during military field  meetings, and to set up rules and regulations to control the situation, including the formation of common patrols to prevent changes on any of the islands.
• The maritime border demarcation committee is to meet one month after the meeting of the joint military committee.

In accordance with the memorandum of understanding, no measures are to be taken that might create any changes either on the land or in the sea. The two parties confirm that in the event of any security considerations the matter is to be discussed at the level of the political leadership.

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