No agreement reached on territorial issue

11 December 2007
Report: Jaxu

Attorney General Azima Shukoor has said that although a 200 mile boundary line exists between Diego Garcia (a British territory mostly populated by the US military) and Maldives, no definitive agreement has been reached between the two countries over the territorial space. She also pointed out no official talks were held on the issue in order to find a common ground between the two nations. She made the statements speaking at a news conference held at the press room “Fansavees” at Dharubaaruge.

Speaking at the news conference, she noted that due to both parties declaring a 200 nautical mile boundary line, it raises many conflicts.

“If I remember correctly government has been working on this issue since 1998, President’s Office forwarded the matter to Attorney General Office with instructions to engage in discussions with UK government over the issue, since then till date no work was done about it, no strategy was formulated, although some talks were held on the subject between the two countries, no official talks that may lead to a solution were held” said Azima briefing the press.

Attorney General Azima told members of press, that in 2004 UK government declared an environment reservation and protection zone which included part of Maldives Exclusive Economic (EEZ).

“However Maldivian government has not made any counter claims on that as yet” said Azima.

Azima revealed that consultation with concerned government authorities were carried out to obtain necessary legal advice over the issue. She further said in 2005 a formal request was made to Finance Ministry to allocate funds to hire foreign counselors to conduct necessary negotiations.

Azima further told members of press that when she took over the office of the Attorney General consultations were already ongoing with an expert from commonwealth. She further told necessary fundings has been secured to obtain legal advice from other lawyers as well.

“There is no deadline which might have negative impacts on us” Azima told members of the press.

Azima noted that Maldivian government cannot accept equal distribution of the ocean between the Diego Garcia and Maldives.

Speaking at the meeting held by the union of the opposition parties calling for a transitional government, former Attorney General Dr. Hassan Saeed said if Maldivian Government did not raise the issue with necessary UN authorities, 40 miles of the Maldivian territory may be lost.

Azima noted that only 60 miles of ocean separate Diego Garcia and Maldives and that the issue has now been raised to concerned authorities of UN. She further noted Maldivian government now has time till 30 of next May.

Diego Garcia is part of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) formed in 1965 from territory belonging formerly to Mauritius and the Seychelles. The island is one of 52 in the Chagos Archipelago, which extends over an area of 10,000 square miles. The archipelago is located in the heart of the Indian Ocean, south of India and between Africa and Indonesia. The tropical island is a narrow coral atoll with a land area of about eleven square miles, nearly enclosing a lagoon. Its configuration is that of a "V" drawn by a shaky hand. The island stretches 37 miles from tip to tip, with an opening to the north-northwest. Three small islands dot the mouth of the lagoon which is approximately 13 miles long and up to 6 miles wide. The lagoon is from sixty to one hundred feet deep with numerous coral heads in most areas. Shallow reefs surround the island on the ocean side, as well as in the lagoon. The island's mean height above sea level is 4 feet.

Diego Garcia is the largest of many atolls that form the Chagos Archipelago. The horseshoe- shaped atoll is located seven degrees south of the equator in the North Central Region of the Indian Ocean. It is heavily vegetated, has a land area of 6,720 acres and is 37 miles long, tip- to-tip. The maximum elevation is 22 feet, with an average elevation of four feet above sea level. The enclosed lagoon is approximately seven miles wide and thirteen miles long. The three small islands at the mouth of the lagoon and the shape of the atoll give the impression of a footprint, hence the term "Footprint of Freedom".