‘Government reaffirms Portuguese claim over Savage Islands at UN’

Published on 2 September 2013 at 10:01

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The Portuguese Foreign Ministry will respond in writing to a Spanish objection raised with the United Nations regarding control of territorial waters around the Savage Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, writes Diário de Notícias.

Portugal currently has control of a 200-nautical mile territory around the islands but wants the area to be recognised as an Exclusive Economic Zone, which would increase its territorial control to 350 nautical miles. However, Spain sent a letter of objection to the UN on July 5 contesting the Portuguese claim, as revealed by Diário de Notícias on September 1.

Spain claims that the Savage Islands are simply a collection of rocks and the area should be reclassified as a “territorial sea”, meaning the area Portugal controls around the outcrop would be reduced to only 12 nautical miles.

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