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SINGAPORE: Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said it is pleased with the judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which awarded sovereignty of the Pedra Branca island to Singapore on Friday.
But the ministry said the judgement is not totally in Singapore's favour as the court has awarded Middle Rocks to Malaysia and has decided that South Ledge belongs to the country in whose territorial waters it is located.
Even though Singapore had argued that these features are part of Pedra Branca, MFA said it accepts the court's decision.
The ministry added that the judgement brings closure to a longstanding territorial dispute between Malaysia and Singapore.
Both countries will discuss the steps and procedures to implement the court's decision. Officials from both sides had already been in discussions prior to the announcement of the judgement.
Responding to queries on the implications of the ICJ's decision regarding Singapore's entitlement to territorial maritime zones around Pedra Branca, an MFA spokesman said that the court was not asked to determine such questions of maritime space or boundary delimitation.
However, Singapore's rights and interests on these matters will be pursued in accordance with international law.
A 1980 press statement from MFA had said that Singapore has an Exclusive Economic Zone and a territorial sea limit that extends up to a maximum of 12 nautical miles. This is consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982.
Singapore's foreign ministry said the precise coordinates of Singapore's territorial sea and Exclusive Economic Zone will be announced at an appropriate time.
Should the limits of its territorial sea or Exclusive Economic Zone overlap with claims of neighbouring countries, Singapore will negotiate with those countries with a view to arrive at agreed delimitations, in accordance with international law.
Law Minister K Shanmugam said the Singapore team at the ICJ had put in a lot of effort. He praised the group for being "very professional, very thorough and totally prepared."
Speaking on the sidelines of an event on Friday evening, the law minister said the Pedra Branca issue is a long-standing dispute between Singapore and Malaysia, and agreeing to resolve it through the ICJ is a very responsible way of dealing with it.
- CNA/so/ls
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