The countries have signed the historic
Nineteen countries from three continents in the Indian Ocean region have announced strategic measures against the growing level of piracy off the Horn of Africa, which poses a threat to international and regional navigation, maritime commerce and the safety of sea farers.
The countries stretching from South Africa in the west to Australia in the east have signed in the historic “Bengaluru Communique” (Banagalore Declaration) made at the 11th Council of Ministers (CoM) meeting of Indo-Ocean RIM Association for Regional Co-operation (IOR-ARC), which concluded in India’s IT hub on Tuesday.
According to the Communique, the member countries will fully support the international efforts to at the UN and the several initiatives at the regional level, a swell as the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, which is co-ordinating anti-piracy efforts.
India has assumed the chair of IOR-ARC for the next two years, while Australia has succeeded India as the vice-chair of the association, members of which agreed for mutual understandings to share common interests, best practices and measures to preserve the peace and safeguard the future of the Indian Ocean region.
Republic of Seychelles joined the Indian Ocean RIM family at this summit, in which India has announced an additional contribution of one million US dollars to the special fund to finance viable projects of interest to all members.
SM Krishna, External Affairs Minister of India, has said that the member countries agreed to fully co-operate through sharing information and trough technical assistance to jointly combat the menace of piracy at seas.
“Stabilisatin of Somalia will contribute to dealing with piracy in the region. As members take practical steps consistent with international law to combat piracy, the IOR-ARC could serve as an effective vehicle for sharing information, experience and best practices,” he pointed out.
Source: The Gulf Today
