Six Nations Sign CTI Leaders` Declaration

Manado, North Sulawesi - Six countries attending the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) Summit here Friday launched CTI Leaders` Declaration to address threats to marine, coastal and small island ecosystems in the coral triangle region through accelerated and collaborative action.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, President  Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines, Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta of Timor Leste, Prime Minister Michael Somare of Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister Derek Sikua of Solomon Islands and Prime Minister Dato` Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia launched he CTI on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Securities (CTI-CFF) at their one-day summit.

The six leaders agreed the CTI primarily focuses on areas of cooperation related to coral reefs, fisheries, food security and adaptation to climate change.

They also agreed to adopt the CTI regional plan of action, a living and non-legally binding document to conserve and sustainably manage coastal and marine resources in the coral triangle region by observing laws and policies of each country.

They recognized that the implementation of the declaration is a voluntary cooperation and without prejudice to their respective countries` sovereignty, territorial integrity, sovereign rights over their marine resources, and their position on the ongoing and future negotiation on delimitation of maritime boundaries between the countries.

Under the declaration, the six leaders agreed to task their relevant ministers to formulate the implementation modalities of the CTI-CFF with a view to enhancing cooperation and to establish a secretariat for CTI-CFF to service the ongoing CTI-CFF implementation process.

They called for the mobilization and effective allocation of sustainable financial resources needed to implement the CTI regional and national plans of action.

To help ensure that a high level of political commitment continues to be dedicated in furthering the attainment of CTI-CFF`s goals, they agreed to convene the next CTI summit if considered necessary.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id (16 May 2009)
Photo: http://www.pawb.gov.ph/

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