National Geographic Falls Short on Changes Proposed to the Iranian-American Community: Issue of Islands Resolved - Questions Remain on Persian Gulf

The National Geographic Society announced today changes to the terminology used on its new maps that fell short of those discussed during the past month with the National Iranian American Council.

(PRWEB) January 1, 2005 -- In response to intense pressure by Iranians worldwide, including the Iranian-American community, National Geographic removed the term the Arabian Gulf," originally included on the map in parenthesis, and replaced it with explanatory text recognizing the Persian Gulf" as the historic and most commonly-used term for the water.

In addition, incorrect reference to the Persian Gulf islands of the Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa as occupied by Iran and claimed by the UAE" were completely removed. See changes on National Geographic MapMachine (http://mapmachine.national geographic.com/ mapmachine/viewandcustomize.html). Finally, corrections were made referencing the island of Kish by its official Persian name Kish", versus the Arab term for the island, Qeys".

Responding to requests from its members as well as the larger Iranian-American community, the National Iranian American Council actively pressed the National Geographic Society to correct the errors in its 8th Edition Atlas of the World 2005. NIAC argued against the usage of the variant term Arabian Gulf" as an action that would not only be perceived as politically motivated, but could also fuel ethnic tensions, and harm world heritage.

In response to this argument, the National Geographic proposed to include an explanation of the political roots of the variant term Arabian Gulf". Though not fully satisfactory, this was deemed a positive step.

Changes made to the National Geographic website today, however, failed to include this explanation. Rather, in place of the proposed language, a somewhat perplexing reference (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/maps/gulfhistory.html) was incorporated, stating that all the countries of the region share the resources of the gulf."

The National Geographics retraction of its own proposal is very disappointing. It is important to recognize that the Arabian Gulf" variant term is the expression of the anti-Americanism of the 1950s," said NIAC President Trita Parsi. Further, the National Geographics reference to shared resources of water is detracting, as it may be misconstrued by some to imply that the oil wealth of the Arab states is guiding their decisions on geographic terminology."

The Persian Gulf is the officially recognized geographic name for the body of water partitioning the Arabian Peninsula and the Iranian Plateau, as agreed to by the United Nations and the United States Board of Geographic Names. In an open letter to the National Geographic (http://www.niacouncil.org/Files/NationalGeographic_letter.pdf), signed by 35 other Iranian-American organizations, NIAC asked that the historical and internationally-recognized name be the sole term used for the water on all National Geographic maps.

The name 'Persian Gulf is a geographical address that has served peoples of all nationalities, including Arab historians and geographers, for millennia. At no time the name Persian Gulf denoted proprietorship of that body of water to a particular nation or country, itself a legal impossibility under international law," said Guive Mirfendereski, international lawyer and author of Diplomatic History of the Caspian Sea. To deviate from the established use of long-standing place names like the Persian Gulf requires a compelling reason above and beyond political whimsy or mercenary considerations."

NIAC will continue to discuss these issues with the National Geographic shortly after the start of the New Year.

While we appreciate the progress that has been achieved and acknowledge improvement from the original format of the 8th Edition maps, we remain firm in our position that the body of water should only be referred to by its historic and internationally-recognized term, the Persian Gulf," said NIAC Executive Director Dokhi Fassihian.

Over the past month, over 5,000 people have lodged their protest with National Geographic by sending letters to President John Fahey and other National Geographic executives through NIACs website (www.niacouncil.org). NIACs campaign also entailed the rapid mobilization of Iranian-American organizations across the country through its IraNexus database.

NIAC is a Washington, DC-based 501 c(3) non-partisan, non-political, non-sectarian and non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Iranian-American participation in American civic life. For more information about the organization, please visit www.niacouncil.org or email us at info@niacouncil.org or send a fax to (202) 518-5507.

###