Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia and Singapore have agreed that fishermen of both countries would be allowed to continue with their current traditional fishing activities in the waters around Batu Puteh (Pedra Branca), Middle Rocks and South Ledge.
In a joint press statement, Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim and Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo said both countries had also agreed that in the event of an incident occurring in the waters in and around Batu Puteh (Pedra Branca), Middle Rocks and South Ledge, humanitarian assistance would be provided by either side to the affected vessels as part of their common aim of ensuring the safety and security in and around those waters.
"It was agreed that a technical sub-committee would be set up to oversee the conduct of Joint Survey Works to prepare for eventual talks on maritime issues in and around Batu Puteh (Pedra Branca), Middle Rocks and South Ledge," they said in the statement.
They said delegations from Malaysia and Singapore had met on Tuesday in Singapore to discuss the implementation of the May 23 judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Batu Puteh (Pedra Branca), Middle Rocks and South Ledge.
The Malaysian delegation was led by Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa while the Singapore side was headed by its Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peter Ho.
The joint statement said that at the meeting both sides reiterated their commitment to honour and abide by the ICJ‘s judgement and fully implement its decision that gave Singapore sovereignty over Batu Puteh, or what Singapore calls Pedra Branca, and Malaysia sovereignty over Middle Rocks.
The ICJ‘s split decision, delivered in The Hague, brought to a close a 28-year-old territorial dispute over the outcrops between Malaysia and Singapore.
Source: www.bernama.com.my (June 6, 2008)
