BY SAMIE WAIKORI
The Solomon Islands assures close cooperation with the United Nation Commission on the limits of the Continental Shelf.
This international treaty established sovereign rights for coastal states to explore the natural resources of the seabed and subsoil of the continental shelf of their coast.
Speaking at the 80th Session of the United Nation General Assembly, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, highlighted the submissions made by the country to UN Commission on the limits of Continental Shelf.
He said the Solomon Islands is an archipelagic state and it shares maritime border with five neighbouring countries.
“Earlier this year, Solomon Island made two continental shelf submissions to the United Nations Commission on the limits of the Continental Shelf.
“A bilateral submission with Fiji concerning the Melanesian Border Plateau and a trilateral submission with Fiji and Vanuatu for the North Fiji Basin.
“Solomon Islands looks forward to engaging constructively with the Commission on these matters in the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect,” Manele stated.
On the same note, he appealed to accelerate negotiation to finalize the binding treaty on plastic pollution to protect the world’s ocean.
PM Manele highlighted this, as the disturbing rate of pollution continues to put the ocean and its inhabitant in jeopardy.
“The alarming rate of pollution in the ocean is endangering marine life and the ocean’s health. We have banned the use of certain single-use of plastic in 2023.
“But we remain very concerned that negotiations on a legally binding treaty on plastic pollution has stalled.
“We have a collective interest to finalize the treaty and protect our ocean,” he said.
Moreover, Manele mentioned that on deep sea mining, the Solomon Islands is taking a precautionary approach and has placed a moratorium on it.
He however said, the country supports a regional approach on deep sea mining as agreed by Forum Leaders early this month.
For feedback, contact:[email protected]
