[Benjamin Meir]

PRESIDENT'S HOUSE
Port St. Andre

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE #DT03-01192015

Providing for the definition of the Most Serene Republic of St. Andre's territorial waters.

Quote:WHEREAS it is imperative that the Most Serene Republic of St. Andre shows its commitment to define and protect the waterways and territorial waters of the Most Serene Republic;

NOW THEREFORE, I, BENJAMIN MEIR, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the people of this Most Serene Republic, do hereby decree and order the following:

SECTION 1. Definitions, Other Provisions.
a. The baseline is the seaward limits of the Most Serene Republic of St. Andre's territorial sea and certain other maritime zones of jurisdiction are measured. A sea baseline follows the low-water line of the Most Serene Republic of St. Andre's coast. When the coastline is deeply indented, has fringing islands or is highly unstable, straight baselines may be used.
i.) A baseline is drawn between the outermost points of the outermost islands, subject to these points being sufficiently close to one another. All waters inside this baseline are designated Archipelagic Waters. The Most Serene Republic of St. Andre has full sovereignty over these waters, but foreign vessels have right of innocent passage through archipelagic waters.
b. Internal waters are defined as all water and waterways on the landward side of the baseline. The Most Serene Republic of St. Andre is free to set laws, regulate use, and use any resource in these waters. Foreign vessels have no guaranteed right of passage within internal waters.
c. Territorial waters are defined as the 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 miles) from the baseline. The Most Serene Republic of St. Andre is free to set laws, regulate use and use any resource within these waters. Vessels are given the right of innocent passage through any territorial waters, with strategic straits allowing the passage of military craft as transit passage, as long as vessels do not maintain offensive postures in these waters.
d. Innocent passage is defined as passing through waters in an expeditious and continuous manner that is not prejudicial to the peace, good order, stability or security of the Most Serene Republic of St. Andre. Unauthorized fishing, polluting, weapons practice, spying and resource extraction within these waters are not considered innocent. Submarines and other underwater vehicles are required to navigate on the surface and show their flag while navigating through territorial waters. The Most Serene Republic of St. Andre may temporarily suspend innocent passage in specific areas of their territorial seas, if doing so is essential to national security.
e. Contiguous zone is defined as a further 12 nautical miles from the limit of territorial waters limit in which the Most Serene Republic of St. Andre can enforce laws in four specific areas: customs, taxation, immigration, pollution and security.
f. Andrino waters are defined as including internal and territorial waters.

SECTION 2. Andrino sovereignty over territorial waters.
a. Most Serene Republic of St. Andre hereby asserts its right to declare the baselines, archipelagic waters, internal waters, territorial waters and contiguous zones and extend its sovereignty and all rights and responsibilities thereof over them.
b. Internal and territorial waters shall be patrolled on a regular basis by the appropriate military branches, whose duty shall be to maintain the territorial integrity of the Most Serene Republic of St. Andre's waters and naval superiority over them.
c. No foreign military presence shall be tolerated within the Most Serene Republic of St. Andre's internal or territorial waters, unless specifically authorized by the Secretary of State. Any vessels without authorization shall be detained and impounded unless they depart Andrino waters within 24 hours with a military escort. Vessels belonging to Andrino allies shall be exempt, provided that they have informed the Secretary of State prior to passage.
d. The Most Serene Republic of St. Andre shall maintain the right to intercept all incoming transmissions through Andrino waters and search vessels for contraband, illegal substances and weapons. Any vessels not conforming to such searches may be attacked and impounded by patrolling vessels should they fail to comply, their governments then properly notified.
e. Should military vessels violate Andrino waters without permission and refuse to leave or comply with the provisions of this Act, the Most Serene Republic of St. Andre may then consider this a causus belli for military action or a declaration of war.

SECTION 3. Andrino Coast Guard.
a. There shall be an Andrino Coast Guard established under the jurisdiction of the Department of State.
b. The Andrino Coast Guard shall be entrusted during peacetime with the following responsibilities:
i) search and rescue;
ii) enforcement of maritime law;
iii) safety of vessels;
iv) maintenance of seamarks; and
v) border control.
c. The Andrino Coast Guard may be assigned the following additional duties during wartime by order of the Transitional Government or the Department of State:
i) harbor defense;
ii) port security;
iii) naval counter-intelligence; and
iv) coastal patrols.

SECTION 4. Economic Presence and Natural Resources.
a. Andrino waters shall be considered Andrino territory and their resources are reserved for the use of Andrino enterprises and companies only. Foreign initiatives must contact the Most Serene Republic of St. Andre to gain access to such materials and pay for the rights to do so.
b. The usage of raw materials in Andrino waters shall be placed under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce, which owns the sole right to issue permits to Andrino and foreign nationals to extract such raw resources and materials.
c. The extraction of raw materials and resources without proper permission is illegal, and may result in proper legal action against them.
d. A tax shall be levied on foreign companies and nationals for extracting raw materials within the Most Serene Republic of St. Andre's waters at a flat rate to be established by the Department of Commerce.
e. All natural resources are in the locations and amounts set out by the Micronational Cartographic Society's resource maps.

SECTION 5. This decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Port St. Andre this 19th day of January in the year of our Lord 2015.

/s/,
BENJAMIN MEIR
Transitional President

/s/ Witness, signed by the President
MARIAN MOULON
Presidential Executive Assistant