Indonesia hails enforcement of UN sea law<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia yesterday hailed the enforcement of
\nthe UN's Law of the Sea Convention which finally grants world
\nrecognition to the concept of Indonesia as an archipelagic state.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security
\nSoesilo Soedarman announced yesterday that Indonesia's
\nterritorial waters will automatically increase by three million
\nsquare kilometers when the convention goes into effect on Nov.
\n16.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has been fighting for 37 years to gain international
\nrecognition of its status as an archipelagic state, a concept
\nwhich grants Indonesia sovereignty over all the waters that lie
\nbetween its 17,000 islands.<\/p>\n
\"We're happy because our 37 years of fighting have now paid
\noff,\" Soesilo said after the meeting.<\/p>\n
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea was enacted in 1982
\nbut its enforcement was postponed until this year largely because
\nof resistance from some powerful countries.<\/p>\n
Soesilo convened a special coordinating meeting at his office
\nyesterday to review Indonesia's preparation in anticipation of
\nconvention's enactment, the Antara news agency reported.<\/p>\n
The meeting determined that much needs to be done.<\/p>\n
\"There are hundreds, may be even thousands, of issues that we
\nneed to resolve in connection with the convention,\" Soesilo told
\nreporters after the meeting. \"As a consequence, we will not be
\nable as yet to fully exercise our sovereignty over all our
\nterritorial waters.\"<\/p>\n
Among the most important issues cited by Soesilo are the need
\nto draft new laws and regulations in compliance with the
\nconvention and the archipelagic state concept and also
\nregulations pertaining to the exclusive economic zone and the
\ncontinental shelf.<\/p>\n
Disputes<\/p>\n
Indonesia must also resolve border disputes with a number of
\nneighboring countries, including Australia and Vietnam, who, in
\nregards to the sea, have overlapping claims with Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Soesilo said that the armada of the Indonesian Navy is also
\ninsufficient to guard all its territorial waters, especially now
\nwith the addition of the three million square kilometers.<\/p>\n
The Navy is now expecting to receive 39 warships from the
\nformer East German arsenal, beefing up its strength considerably.<\/p>\n
The Navy needs more submarines to guard the vital Indonesian
\nstraits which are also international sea lanes, he said, adding
\nthat ideally the Navy should possess four submarines.<\/p>\n
He stressed, however, that the Navy's armada will be
\nstrengthened in line with the state's budget capability.<\/p>\n
Senior diplomat Hasjim Djalal, who is Indonesia's foremost
\nexpert on the law of the sea, said that under the archipelagic
\nstate concept, which is recognized by the UN convention,
\nIndonesia now has the right to determine the sea passages for
\ninternational ships passing through its territory.<\/p>\n
Hasjim, who accompanied Soesilo at the press briefing, said
\nIndonesia will be consulting with foreign users of Indonesia's
\nsea lanes to determine where the passages will be located. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-hails-enforcement-of-un-sea-law-1447893297",
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