UNITED NATIONS, May 22 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday welcomed the signing of an agreement concerning the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands between Britain and Mauritius.
Guterres welcomes the signing of the agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia, said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
"This agreement marks a significant step toward resolving a long-standing dispute in the Indian Ocean region and demonstrates the value of diplomacy in addressing historical grievances," said the spokesman in a note to correspondents.
The secretary-general urges both parties to continue engaging in constructive discussions to ensure that the rights and aspirations of the Chagossian people are fully respected and upheld. The United Nations remains committed to supporting both countries in this process, said the spokesman.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday signed an agreement transferring sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Under the terms of the agreement, Mauritius will lease the Diego Garcia military base -- located within the archipelago -- back to Britain and the United States. ■
