Jakarta (VNA) - The Indonesian House ofRepresentatives of Indonesia has ratified a historic maritime agreementpertaining to an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) with the Philippines tosafeguard the two countries’ maritime security from threats such as the AbuSayyaf group.
In a hearing on April 18 with representatives of theCoordinating Legal, Political and Security Affairs Ministry, the Law and HumanRights Ministry, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Indonesian Navy,lawmakers of the House of Representatives Commission I overseeing defense andforeign affairs agreed to ratify the maritime deal.
The maritime deal, signed in 2014 after 20 years ofnegotiations, draws a boundary between Indonesia and the Philippines in overlappingEEZ in the Mindanao Sea and Celebes Sea. This is the first maritime deal of thePhilippines.
Commission I Deputy Chairman TB Hasanuddin, who presidedover the hearing, called on the Government to follow up the ratification withconcrete programs that would enhance maritime defense and boost Indonesia'seconomy, including eradicating illegal fishing, empowering local fishermen andaddressing threats from the Philippine-based Abu Sayyaf group.-VNA
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