High-level Roundtable with the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs

The Foundation participates in high-level roundtable on maritime affairs and international law

On 3 December 2019, one of the Max Planck Foundation’s Managing Directors and former judge and President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, Professor Rüdiger Wolfrum, and Research Fellows from the Foundation’s Asia Team participated in a high-level Roundtable discussion on maritime affairs in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Roundtable was hosted by the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs of Indonesia in collaboration with the Embassy of Indonesia in Berlin.

The event was attended by the Indonesian Ambassador to Germany, HE Arif Havas Oegroseno, high-ranking officials, representatives from the Coordinating Ministry, members of the Naval Forces of Indonesia, and research staff. The Roundtable also benefited from the active participation and coordination of the Minister’s Expert Staff, Mr Sugeng Santoso and of the Director for the Delimitation of Maritime Zones, Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs, Mr Ayodhia G.L. Kalake.

The opening remarks were given by HE Arif Havas Oegroseno and he highlighted key areas of interest and then elaborated on how the discussions would feed into the Deputy Maritime Coordination Field’s efforts to harmonise Indonesian policies and regulations related to maritime affairs and international law. The participants engaged in a lively discussion, exchanging views and asking questions on a number of maritime issues of regional and international significance, including the exercise of military activities and measures of enforcement at sea, and the legal regime of islands and rocks.

This activity was complemented by a workshop with state officials, academics, legal practitioners, and students from a number of Indonesian Universities. The Foundation and the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs of Indonesia aim to continue their cooperation with further activities in 2020.