IAfrica.com, a division of Metropolis

Sunday, September 21, 2003

-----Original Message-----
From: Renay Pattinson [mailto:pattinsonr@hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2003 8:24 PM
To: mahan_abedin@hotmail.com; richard@metropolis.co.za
Cc: pgtf@persiangulfonline.org
Subject: Re: PERSIAN GULF

Dear Mr Mahan Abedin and Mr Mohammad Ala

Thank you both for your informative e-mails. I was unaware of the error and
obviously did not intend to misinform my readers.

I am e-mailing my editor as well, and I am sure that between us, we can
avoid any further errors.

Regards,

Renay Pattinson

From: "Mahan Abedin" <mahan_abedin@hotmail.com>
To: pattinsonr@hotmail.com
CC: pgtf@persiangulfonline.org
Subject: PERSIAN GULF
Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2003 22:37:57 +0000

Dear Mrs. Pattison,

I was recently sent a link to your brief on the touristic wonders of the
UAE. As a member of the Persian Gulf Task Force, an organisation that takes
it upon itself to defend the LEGAL and HISTORICAL name of the Persian Gulf,
I was dismayed to note a reference to the fictional and non-existent
so-called A... Gulf.

The name "Persian Gulf" is not in dispute. It is not a bone of contention
between Iranians and Arabs. You should note that:

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/Qen on March 5, 1971 and the second was UNLA
45.8.2 (C) on August 10, 1984

I am sure you will agree that seasoned travellers (like yourself) need to
be conversant with cultural, historical and LEGAL sensitivities. Therefore
I would urge you to use the correct name when refering to the Persian Gulf.

I would also urge you to correct the reference to the fictional A... Gulf
in the article. Professional integrity, judiciousness and the continuity of
your own good reputation demand nothing less.

Kindest Regards

Mahan Abedin
PGTF (UK)