To : All press agencies
Aux amis et relations de la République, présents et à venir, salut.
The Stervian Government supports Mr Gordon Kennett's statement on the
Utanian position about the Guwimithian Strait.
We believe that the Utanian Government's position is adequate and
correct with regard to the development of a globally recognized,
fair, and legally-binding set of rules that has to be established as
the basis of the international law of the sea.
Stervia is committed to establish the rule of law in international
relations. We believe in juris gentium as the cornerstone of
international relations, as opposed to unilateralism.
The Stervian Government supports the creation and enforcement of
Exclusive Economic Zones, giving coastal states exclusive rights to
resources within those areas, which should never, however, be larger
than 200 n.m.
The latter limit is necessary in order to give a chance to States
without any huge EEZs to take part in a fair and rational
exploitation of the common resource of mankind : the oceans.
EEZs are however NEVER to be considered as territorial waters and
therefore, the rights and duties of a given state as EEZ owner are
limited to economic and safety questions. This gives the coastal
state the right to control and if necessary board any ship involved
in the exploitation of maritime resources (such as fishing, oil and
gas exploration and drilling), but no other specific right.
The Stervian Government also emphasizes the necessity to maintain the
right of full and free peaceful passage of ships through any kind of
maritime areas, including EEZs and territorial waters.
This freedom shall be limited by the coastal state only in the cases
where the safety of navigation or of the environment is at stake, by
establishing for example shipping channels in narrow areas.
Considering the vital need for safe and open sea lanes in
international maritime traffic, the Stervian Government also supports
the establishment, wherever needed, of special status areas known as
International Straits, for which an absolute freedom of navigation
must enshrined in international law.
Stervia will help and support any initiatives in line with these
elements.
Jeremy Volney
State Counsellor / Foreign relations
Government of the Stervian Confederation - Gouvernement de la
Confédération de Stervia
Secrétariat aux affaires étrangères - Bureau des relations
diplomatiques & Bureau du droit international
Palais Vermeer - 112, avenue Wallenstein
GA365 Blakelock, Stervia
(Quote)
[SEAL]
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
For release to:
Aethelnian Ambassador to Utania, His Excellency Jean-Claude Smyth
Cotillon;
Fenizic Ambassador to Utania, His Excellency In'Dee-Ana Aga;
All press agencies.
Overview of the position of the Utanian government pertaining to Utanian
intentions in the Guwimithian Strait.
December 10, 303 AP.
Regarding this nation's position on the status of the Guwimith Strait.
Utania has began exploration and extraction of oil resources from her
equal share of the Guwimith Strait, shared with Guwimith.
Utania has oft stated her non-negotiable position regarding the Guwimith
Strait, that half the strait between Utania and the island is Utania's
Exclusive Economic Zone, giving Utania exclusive rights to the resources
in the Strait. However, we do not hold that this 'EEZ' represents
territorial waters for Utania, and therefore, shipping SHALL CONTINUE TO
HAVE FULL AND FREE PASSAGE RIGHTS THROUGH THE STRAITS.
However, the Strait has been the scene of action against exploratory oil
platforms in the past, most notably an attack on the Zartlam oil
exploration rig in March 299ap. Therefore, the Utanian government has
sought to mitigate the risks by PROVIDING PRE-EMPTIVE PROTECTION TO OUR
OIL ASSETS IN THE STRAIT.
This means that the Coast Guard, representing mostly patrol boats and
missile ships, shall have the additional responsibility of patrolling
Utania's EEZ in the Guwimith Strait, and have enshrined in law the right
to direct traffic in those seas, and to stop, search and even seize
ships should the need arise.
However, the Utanian government is acutely aware of the amount of
traffic that passes through the Strait, of how vital it is to
international trade. It is the main route from eastern Eras to the
southern Meridian, southern Longerath and Smalik nations. Furthermore,
Utania is a trading nation, trade being the lifeblood of this country's
economy. Indeed, Luka, Utania's second largest city, has always been a
major trading port, the largest in the Guwimithian Empire. Therefore, it
is very far from our intention to enact any change in security policy
that threatens Utania's longer term economic prosperity.
This traffic passes close by the Utanian coastline, and the Coast Guard
has always maintained a strong monitoring role as a global citizen (to
ensure the free flow of shipping and eradication of any piracy in the
Strait which briefly flourished in the aftermath of the Guwimithian
Empire's collapse), and Utania's commitment to free passage on open
seas, including the Guwimith Strait REMAINS RESOLUTE.
Therefore, Utania has spent considerable effort ensuring that both
objectives are met: that Utania's security is assured, and that shipping
continues freely. Our efforts conclude in the role that the Coast Guard
shall play in the Strait.
Essentially, wide shipping channels shall be opened and shipping
directed to those channels to ensure that free passage of all shipping
continues unabated and unrestricted. Furthermore, ships shall be guided
by radio and radio beacons (using standard frequencies) through the
channel.
Shipping travelling to and from ports along the Utanian coastline shall
be afforded similar guidance, guiding them to their port of destination.
ESCALATION PROCESS
In other words, the government of Utania would propose that the Utanian
Coast Guard shall function in the same capacity as Air Traffic Control
does in the skies above any nation, and in some parts of the seas. The
Coast Guard shall guide and direct traffic and has no intention of
interfering with any shipping unless absolutely necessary to fulfil the
second requirement of the Strait: security.
Should any ship stray too far from shipping channels, and too close to
any Utanian oil assets, then our Coast Guard shall place a four stage
alert system into operation:
(1) radio, loudspeaker, flare and signalling warnings shall be issued,
(2) followed by Coast Guard ships moving closer to ships and issuing
repeat warnings,
(3) followed by warning shots, culminating with a warning shot across
the bow, and,
(4) only at the absolute last, resorting to expressions of force to stop
the ships.
In all stages, radio and signalling channels of communication shall
always remain open.
This last stage shall be at the discretion of the Coast Guard commander
of the situation in consultation with Coast Guard High Command (CGHC) in
Luka. All Coast Guard commanders shall or have been placed in specialist
courses to prepare them for these high-pressure situations. In all
cases, consideration shall be given to the protection of the lives of
the crew and cargo of the ship in question, and to the safety of Coast
Guard personnel and Utanian assets. While a comprehensive list of all
possible options at the Coast Guard's disposal cannot be reasonably
provided, these would certainly include redirection by force (that is
guiding the ship away from any collisions), boarding, and disabling. The
possibility that the crew of any such ship is incapacitated shall always
feature in any plans by the Coast Guard.
Finally, should such actions be taken, the Embassy or Consulate of the
nation under whose flag the ship sails shall immediately be informed.
The Government of Utania describes this escalation process only to
reassure all governments and shipping companies that actions taken shall
only be of absolute necessity, and only to ensure the safe passage of
traffic in the Strait and protection of Utanian assets.
However, should there be residual concerns, all shipping is, as we
understand it, free to continue to use the eastern half of the Guwimith
Strait, that closest to Guwimith Island that shall remain free and
without impediment.
Therefore, the President re-emphasises that it is NOT the intention of
this administration to stop, search or seize any ships that remain
within these channels, nor the intention to do so for ships that stray
from the channels, except in extreme cases.
Thus, we foresee no circumstances in which any foreign ship should need
to call on the protection of their nation's Navy, and the government
remains acutely aware that ships flying foreign flags are under the
protection of the navies of those nations.
NAVAL VESSELS
Regarding Naval vessels, all foreign vessels shall continue to enjoy
free passage through the Strait. However, as detailed above, it will be
requested that they, too, follow the channels to safely guide them
through the Strait without any possibility of collision with Utanian oil
assets.
Obviously, there may be need to divert from such channels, and to this
end Utania's Coast Guard shall remain ever flexible and accommodative.
We only request prior or present (that is, at the time of deviation)
notification of any significant changes. This will provide the Coast
Guard reassurance that she can continue to safely protect Utanian
assets.
On behalf of the President, Government and People of the United
Democratic Republic of Utania, Peace be with you.
Gordon Kennett,
Utan Krysaror.
(End of Quote)
