LONDON, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- The governments of UK and Mauritius on Thursday issued a joint statement concerning the Chagos Archipelago, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean.
The two sides confirmed that they have reached a "historic" political agreement on the exercise of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago.
"Today's political agreement is subject to the finalisation of a treaty and supporting legal instruments, which both sides have committed to complete as quickly as possible," said the statement.
"Under the terms of this treaty the United Kingdom will agree that Mauritius is sovereign over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia," it added.
The two countries also "are committed to the need, and will agree in the treaty, to ensure the long-term, secure and effective operation of the existing base on Diego Garcia."
The Chagos Archipelago was hived off Mauritius in 1965 when the latter was a British colony. Britain has retained possession of the islands ever since, while Mauritius has continued to claim its sovereignty over them.
In February 2019, the International Court of Justice, also the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, handed Mauritius a victory when it concluded in an advisory opinion that the British government has "an obligation to bring to an end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago as rapidly as possible." ■