Foreign relations of the Republic of Ireland
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The Republic of Ireland is involved in a number of outstanding international disputes. Historically the state has been involved in a dispute with the United Kingdom (UK) over the status of Northern Ireland. However both nations concluded the Belfast Agreement on the issue in 1998 and now co-operate closely to find a solution to the region's problems.
The Republic of Ireland is also a party to the Rockall continental shelf dispute that also involves Denmark, Iceland, and the UK. The Republic and the United Kingdom have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area. However Iceland and Denmark (on behalf of the Faroe Islands) dispute this agreement.
Iceland now claims a substantial area of the continental shelf to the west of Ireland, to a point 49°48'N 19°00'W, which further south than Ireland! [1] (http://www.reglugerd.is/interpro/dkm/WebGuard.nsf/key2/196-1985)
The Republic is transshipment point for, and consumer of, hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands, and of European-produced synthetic recreational drugs. The Republic is also a minor transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for Western Europe.