The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Further action by the UN commission concerned on Myanmar's claim on the outer-limits of the continental shelf in the Bay of Bengal has been suspended.

An official announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here Tuesday said the Union of Myanmar submitted their outer-continental-shelf claim on December 16, 2008 to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS).

The presentation on the submission was held on August 24 this year before the Commission where the formation of a sub-commission for Myanmar was deferred in consideration of the protest note of Bangladesh, which was communicated to the UN Secretary General on June 23 this year.

The Commission, in its 24th session, heard the explanation of the Myanmar authorities on the basis of their claim and the comments on the protest notes of Bangladesh.

It considered Bangladesh's objection with reference to disputes in the area as invoked under paragraph 5(a) of Annex I of the Rules of Procedure.

"The Commission decided to defer further consideration of the submission and the notes verbale until such time as the submission is next in line for consideration," said the MoFA release.

The decision was taken by the Commission in order to take into consideration any further developments that might occur during the intervening period, including provisional arrangements of a practical nature provided for in the Rules.

"Consequently, further action on Myanmar's claim on the outer-limits of the continental shelf remains suspended," the foreign ministry said about the latest state of the dispute-settlement process.

The dispute by the neighbor gathered pace, creating tensions across the border, as Bangladesh moved to explore gas in the Bay by leasing out hydrocarbon blocks to two foreign companies-one US and the other one Irish.