Khazaee Urges Google To Correct Mistake In Omitting PG Name From Online Map

Tehran, May 23, IRNA – Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Mohammad Khazaee voiced displeasure of the Iranian nation and government over the recent Google measure in omitting the historical name of the Persian gulf from its online map. In a letter to the Google Chief Executive Larry Page, he called on the company to revise its policy. Expressing astonishment over the act of the Google company in declining to use a word which is officially recognized worldwide, he said the new Google policy will result in nothing but undermining its professional status in the world because it has raised concern in a great nation as well as those who are worried about probable wrong manipulations of the historical and geographical facts. He stressed that the “Persian Gulf” has been the only term used for the water stretch between Iran and Saudi Arabia since the beginning of history. As all official documents belonging to reputable and credible mapping organizations prove, the waterway has been called the “Persian Gulf since the time when Greek historians started to write down the history; a name which was continued to be used by all geography experts all through the history till today, he added. The Iranian diplomat further stressed that the policy of the United nations which has always been using the name Persian Gulf for the waterway should be respected and followed. Elsewhere in his letter, khazaee noted that the recent decision of the Google will open up a dangerous route towards manipulating historical names in favor of political interests, adding that such a policy will certainly have grave legal outcomes for the organization. Khazaee concluded by expressing hope that the Google would pay due attention to this “very sensitive” issue and just once for ever take necessary measure to correct its policies in naming the Persian Gulf based on authentic and reliable documents./end