By MICHELLE AUAMOROMORO in Suva, Fiji
THE governments of Fiji and Solomon Islands signed a historical Maritime Boundary Agreement to share their maritime boundaries.
This agreement was signed on Monday in Suva, Fiji where the Pacific leaders had come together for the 51s Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting.
The signing was consistent with the intention of all PIF members to maintain maritime zones in the face of climate change related sea-level rise.
Upon signing on Monday, Fiji and Solomon Islands agreed that irrespective of sea-level rise, the baseline and outer limits of the two countries’ maritime zones were cemented in perpetuity.
This signing, which was aligned with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea marked the first boundary treaty to be signed in the Pacific region in 6 years.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare welcomed the agreement and said that the region was clear on preserving its maritime boundaries due to sea-level rise.
“As big ocean states, the Blue Pacific makes up a combined exclusive economic zone of more than 41 million square kilometres,” said Mr. Sogavare.
“Solomon Islands have shared maritime boundaries with our Pacific neighbours.
“We have concluded maritime boundaries with Australia, Papua New Guinea, France, Vanuatu and now Fiji,” he said.
Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said signing of such an agreement was critical to the region’s ocean solutions and it formed the foundation of the Great Blue Pacific.
“I am hopeful that the finalization of this agreement will set the momentum to the finalization of the agreement with Tonga and the other remaining 11 maritime boundary agreements in the region,” he said.
