By IANS
New Delhi : The navies and maritime security organisations in the littoral states of the Indian Ocean must forge greater ties to combat terror and crime and conserve the ecosystem, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Thursday.
“We need greater connectivity among us not just in trade and commerce but in the realm of ideas, people and cultures,” the prime minister told the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, which opened here.
“Recent years have seen a rise in crimes like terrorism, smuggling 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,” he said.
“The need for cooperation among navies of the region in preventing such global crimes is therefore of paramount importance,” he told the chiefs of navies and maritime security organizations of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean.
Twenty-nine nations had confirmed their participation in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium. Apart from the seminar inaugurated by the prime minister, the events include a two-day conclave of the participating naval chiefs in Goa.
Spanning 28 million sq km, the countries on the Indian Ocean host a third of the world population, account for 25 percent of the global landmass and 40 percent of the energy sources, the prime minister said.
“They have a rich heritage and share close socio-cultural ties. Above all, they are linked by a history of sea faring. A significant share of international trade passes through the sea-lanes of the region,” he said.
“Indian Ocean also accounts for 70 percent of the world’s natural disasters,” he said, adding this was the reason why countries in the region must pool their knowledge and resources for the common good of all people.
Manmohan Singh said that there was also the need to prevent human trafficking, as perpetrators of these crimes were operating as well-organized, well-funded transnational syndicates, taking full advantage of the oceans.
The prime minister also expressed concern over the marked rise in the incidence of natural disasters like tsunamis and cyclones and said navies had to take the lead in mitigating their effects on coastal zones and humans.
“Our coastal ecosystems sustain livelihoods. They are host to a diverse species of marine life. We must have robust capabilities to deal with environmental emergencies,” he said.
“We must address the issues relating to navigation, conservation and management of these resources and for the conservation and management of the biodiversity of the seabed in areas beyond national jurisdiction,” he said.
“India remains committed to an Indian Ocean region that is stable and peaceful. We would like to cooperate with all like-minded countries to ensure the freedom of the seas for all nations and to deepen trade and economic linkages between the Indian Ocean Rim countries.”