Tromelin is indeed a tiny scrap of land but it offers a powerful example of the progress that two countries can achieve through trust and cooperation. This island will be jointly managed by Mauritius and France. An agreement to this effect has been signed this week. It will serve the interest of both nations.

Mauritius and France both claim sovereignty over the island. They however agreed to disagree on the matter and chose not to keep on discussing the intricate legal issues that it involves. Instead, they signed three conventions on fishing, environmental protection and archeological research which would be mutually beneficial to both. This agreement could set an example and help clear the way for a settlement of the dispute between Mauritius and the UK over the Chagos.

This archipelago have been excised in breach of international law from Mauritius before independence. Britain forcibly evicted the islanders to make way for the construction of a US military base in Diego Garcia, the largest island of the archipelago. Britain gave a lease on Diego to the US in 1966 for an initial 50-year period. So either party can opt out of the agreement in 2016.

Hence, Mauritius and the UK have a unique opportunity now to end their long struggle concerning the Chagos islands. But recent developments do not augur well for our country. While in London last week to discuss the subject, our Prime Minister was met by the UK Foreign Secretary in the latter’s office. He was not received at 10, Downing Street. Nothing came out of his meeting with William Hague, though Navin Ramgoolam did ably defend our position. The Mauritian government is calling for the return of its original inhabitants to the Chagos.

While he was in opposition, Tory leader David Cameron recognized that “there is a moral issue here”. Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats believes, too, that his government has a moral responsibility to allow the Chagossians to return home. In the US, the Obama administration seems likely to agree to the islanders returning to the islands other than Diego, like Peros Banhos and Salomon which lie 140 miles away from it. This is exactly what the leader of the Opposition, Paul Bérenger, has been proposing for several years. While stressing that Mauritius should not waive its sovereignty claim over the Chagos, he has been urging the UK to return the outlying islands to us even if the Pentagon wants to keep Diego an air base.

It is in nobody’s interest to remain locked in bitter legal battles over sovereignty. Let us consider friendly talks. France has shown the way forward.