Manila Accord


The Manila Accord was signed on 31 July 1963 by the Federation of Malaya, the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of the Philippines, after a meeting from 7 to 11 June 1963 in Manila.
Initiated by President of the Philippines Diosdado Macapagal, the meeting was convened to resolve issues over the wishes of people in North Borneo and Sarawak within the context of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1541, Principle 9 of the Annex taking into account the referendum in North Borneo and Sarawak that would be free and without coercion.

History

The Accord lists a series of agreements between the Federation of Malaya, the Republic of Indonesia, and the Republic of the Philippines, and a joint statement by all three parties.
Effective 24 September 1963, the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur closed down upon the Malayan government’s orders, following a failure to reach a satisfactory settlement of the Philippines’ claim to eastern North Borneo, and the deferment of recognition of the successor state, Malaysia. Diplomatic and consular relations between the two countries remained suspended until May 1964.
On 7 February 1966, relations between the Philippines and Malaysia became calmer and had stabilised, during which time an exchange of notes constituting an agreement relating to the implementation of the Manila Accord of 31 July 1963 and the accompanying Joint Statement, called for the peaceful settlement of the Philippine claim to eastern North Borneo. The agreements also recognized the need for the parties to come together, as soon as possible, for the purpose of clarifying the claim and discussing the means of settling it to the satisfaction of both parties in consonance with the Manila Accord and the Joint Statement.
The Manila Accord with the Joint Statement, and the Agreement relating to the implementation of the Manila Accord of 31 July 1963 were registered and published after their entry into force had been transmitted to the Secretary-General of the United Nations by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines on 30 December 1965 and 24 October 1967, respectively. Compliance with Article 80 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties would lead envisaged jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice for decision unless the parties by common consent could agree to submit the dispute to arbitration.