By IANS
New Delhi : The navies of the Indian Ocean littoral states began a landmark conclave here Thursday with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging them to forge greater ties to combat terror and crime and to conserve the ecosystem.
“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 (IONS) that has brought together the navy chiefs of 29 countries from South Africa to Australia.
“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.
After a two-day conclave, the navy chiefs will head for Goa Feb 16 for a two-day retreat, following which they will return here for the DEFEXPO-2008 international defence exposition that opens here Saturday.
The Indian Navy that has organised IONS intends it to be a biennial event.
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.
“The 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 trans-national 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.”
Speaking on the occasion, Defence Minster A.K. Antony said: “The maritime domain is demanding and deserving of continuous study, discussion and debate.
“The fact that the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region too realize this and understand its implications is clearly evident from your presence here at the launch of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium,” the minister added.
According to Antony, “we have come together to share and explore the contours of a grand vision of a coalesced, prosperous and progressive Indian Ocean. This is a vision that is neither diminished nor daunted by our diversity.”
The Indian Navy chief, Admiral Sureesh Mehta, said: “IONS should be seen as a construct in our region that focuses on issues related to, or which can be influenced through, the maritime environment.
“In doing so, it would perhaps help in creating conditions for regional cooperative efforts to spill over to other fields as well,” he added.
Pointing out that 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: “The response from us must, therefore, be from not just one or some, but from all of us.”