Pres orders patrols, environmental protection in Maldives' new southern EEZ
Following the verdict, President Solih convened an emergency cabinet meeting.
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President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Friday directed the relevant authorities to ensure security in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the southern part of the Maldives and take necessary measures to protect its environment and natural ecosystems.
The International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on Friday sided with the Maldives in the dispute with Mauritius surrounding the delimitation of the maritime boundary of the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of the Maldives and the Chagos archipelago, awarding a bigger portion to the Maldives.
Following the verdict, President Solih convened an emergency cabinet meeting. Following the meeting, the president and cabinet members interacted with the media at the President's Office.
The president told reporters that three major decisions were taken in the cabinet meeting. They are:
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Direct the coastguard to ensure safety and security of the southern EEZ of the country
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Identify and obtain the resources required to ensure the safety and security of the area
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As Mauritius has said that the marine protected area currently designated by the British in the Chagos region will be maintained in the same manner, the environment ministry has been asked to work with the concerned authorities to protect the soil in the area
In its judgement, ITLOS rejected Mauritius' argument that Blenheim Reef should be considered as a base point in drawing the equidistance line.
