Solomons and Vanuatu to sign maritime border treaty

Transcript

JOSEPH MAAHANUA: In the case of Torba (Vanuatu's North Western Province) and Temotu (Solomon Islands' South Eastern Province) if you do the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) kind of mapping you would note that from our kind of further most islands our EEZ claims, which would normally be 200 miles, would run into the Northern parts of Vanuatu and similarly of Vanuatu from the Northern islands it would also run into Temotu Province. So we were then able to to agree on the coordinates that should constitute whether the maritime boundary should run to in between the two countries. It will also require further work into other areas that would define management of security along the maritime border and likewise when it comes to resources if you had resources that transcends the boundary how you go about sharing or managing the exploitation of these resources and so forth. So these are the kind of areas that are covered within the treaty.

KOROI HAWKINS: Yes and along that line I understand the Premier of Temotu Province, the closest to Vanuatu is coming along. They have always talked about being able to trade with Vanuatu, Temotu being closer to Vanuatu than the capital of Solomon Islands Honiara. It that also something that will be talked about or is that totally separate?

JM: The question of more cooperation and trade would be a line of discussion that could take place but separately. As it is now the treaty mainly deals with the maritime boundary. Talking about border issues in the Pacific most countries have peaceful arrangements between them but there have been some altercations with the Minerva Reef between Fiji and Tonga and also New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Is this something for Solomon Islands in terms of its borders and patrolling its borders is this quite a big achievement in that sense?

KH: It really is I think all of us as members of the international community but more particularly so as coastal states it is always a challenge trying to manage. So that in the case of the treaty which our prime minister is here in Vanuatu to sign with his Ni-Vanuatu counterpart it is an achievement. But I say that also bearing in mind that we will also in the foreseeable future look forward to possible working with Fiji for our maritime boundaries and likewise the need for discussions with New Caledonia or as it is now French Authorities on our maritime border there.