Professor Payam: A huge win for the Maldives, no losses

Professor Payam Akhvan, the lead council for the Government of Maldives in the border dispute with Mauritius, on Friday night, described the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea’s (ITLOS) ruling on the border dispute in favor of Maldives as a huge win with no losses.

ITLOS, on Friday, concluded that the conflicting Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between both nations will be divided between the two using the equidistance formula as argued by Maldives in the case. The bigger portion, however, is awarded to the Maldives.

The disagreement between the two nations in dividing the zone via the equidistance formula arises from Mauritius' request to lay measurements from Blenheim Reef which is visible during low tides.

Maldives argued that the Blenheim Reef did not fall within the maritime borders of Mauritius. ITLOS, on Friday, decided against accepting the proposition put forth by Mauritius.

With this decision, Maldives will gain an additional 4,687 square kilometers of maritime area.

Answering a question posed by Sun during a press conference held on Friday night following the ruling – Professor Payam said that despite the allegations by the opposition – the decision by ITLOS does not prompt any losses to the Maldives. Rather, he described the ruling as a huge win for the Maldives.

“The ruling will not prompt any losses to the Maldives. A boundary, that has not been declared to date, has been declare as Maldives desired,” he said.

Professor Payam who has over 30 years of experience in maritime border disputes also stressed that the ruling will not in any way impact the Maldives’ independence and sovereignty.

“International maritime laws over 100 years old dictate that overlapping maritime boundaries between two nations must be divided through the equidistance formula. The larger portion, 47,000 square kilometers, has been awarded to the Maldives. Mauritius was awarded 45,000 square kilometers. This is a positive result in any aspect,” he said.

Professor Payam, underscoring Maldives’ gain of additional maritime territory, said the country has lost nothing.

‘NO IMPACT ON FISHIERIES’

Refuting the allegations by the opposition claiming adverse impacts on Maldivian fisheries sector as cast net fishing is carried out in Mauritian waters – Professor Payam said the importance of Maldives’ maritime territory to local fishermen had been clearly explained throughout the case.

“Mauritius has decided to declare a marine protected area. Issues regarding the marine environment and fisheries will be settled in the near future subject to discussions between both nations. It does not directly relate to this case,” he said.

“UN’s 1992 to Convention of the Law of the Sea mandates conservation of the marine environment and marine life, especially with respect to migratory fish species. Maldives will have the right to sue at ITLOS should its marine territories be adversely impacted,” he added.

Professor Payam highlights the most important reason the ITLOS ruling is a success as a ruling in favor of Mauritius would have resulted in Maldives losing 11,000 square kilometers of maritime territory.