The Extended Continental Shelf Task Force is tasked to negotiate Palau’s maritime boundaries on the basis of the “equidistant geodesic lines between Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia, Indonesia and the Philippines, respectively.”
An old committee, the Interagency Committee on Palau Maritime Zone Determination and Boundary Delimitation, was established by late President Ngiratkel Etpison in 1990. It was earlier amended by EO 261, and is further amended by EO 261(A) to include maritime negotiations between the Philippines and Indonesia.
Indonesia and the Philippines, the other two neighboring countries whose 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zones overlaps with the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Palau, want to engage Palau in bilateral dialogue on maritime boundary issues.
Under EO 261(A), the Task Force will meet no later than March 31, 2010, to select its team leader.
Services of qualified maritime boundary consultant will also be hired.
And on December 31, 2011, the task force will submit to the President a report of its findings and recommendations.
Palau’s resident Ambassador to the Philippines Ramon Rechebei will serve as advisor to the Task Force.
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