|
|
|
 |
 |
|||
|
|
Indian Ocean littoral states plan common strategy [Friday, February 15, 2008 - 05.01 GMT]
The need for cooperation among the Navies of the Indian Ocean littoral states in preventing international crimes is of paramount importance, said Indian Prime Minster Dr. Manmohan Singh inaugurating the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium Seminar in New Delhi yesterday (14).
Naval chiefs and Heads of Maritime Security Organizations from 27 countries participate in this Symposium which concludes today.
"Recent years have seen a rise in crimes such as terrorism, smuggling, including of narcotics, arms and weapons, piracy, and robbery. These activities not only pose a threat to our growing naval commerce but also affect innocent fishermen and tourists. In addition there is the abominable practice of trafficking in human beings," he added.
He also called for a consensus-based approach, with a focus on pooling of resources and capacity building, information-exchanges and development of interoperability in doctrinal and operational terms.
Indian Navy chief, Admiral Sureesh Mehta said the initiative was not to aim at forging a military alliance but was an attempt to bring interoperability among navies of the region to tackle the growing menace of terrorism in sea and natural disasters. The threat from malevolent non-state actors "presents a clear and present danger to not just one or some but to all of us," Mehta said adding "The response from us must, therefore, be from not just one or some, but from all of us."
|
|
Contact Information: Send mail to
