India for strengthening intl cooperation on maritime security

United Nations, Dec 5 (PTI) Amid a spate of incidents of
hijacking of ships by Somali pirates, India has sought strengthening of international cooperation to enhance maritime security and ensure sustainable use of marine resources.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, India's Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed expressed "serious concern" over increasing number of incidents of piracy and armed robberies particularly off the coast of Somalia and called for assisting the developing nations to enable them to participate in the maritime security.

After several incidents of hijacking off Somalia coast,
UN Security Council recently adopted a resolution authorising
all states to use their navies to check the menace.

Welcoming the measure, Ahamed, however, cautioned that
the authorisation, which had become necessary due to
particular situations in Somalia, should not be considered as
establishing customary international law.

Pointing out that most armed robberies occur in internal
and archipelagic waters, he said that law enforcement against
armed robbers thus primarily falls within the domain of the
coastal States concerned. "Therefore, enhancement of coastal
States' capacity to combat such crimes is very important."

In addition, he stressed the need for increased
bilateral, multilateral and regional cooperation to combat
piracy and armed robbery by coastal states. But such
cooperation must be based on respecting the coastal States'
territorial integrity, sovereignty, sovereign rights and
jurisdiction in accordance with international law, he added.

Intervening in the debate on Law of Sea Thursday, he
highlighted the need to address the issue of conservation and
sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond
national jurisdiction.

As the use of ocean resources is fundamental to human
well-being, the long-term sustainability of oceans is critical
as any change that alters the state of ocean can have immense
socio-economic consequences, Ahamed said.

Agreeing that management and governance of high seas
present a "formidable challenge" for the international
community, he said it is essential to continue to develop
tools for conserving and managing vulnerable marine
bio-diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

In this context, the Minister drew the attention of the
international community to the threat posed by overfishing,
destructive fishing practice and illegal, unreported and
unregulated (IUU) fishing in the high seas.

"To combat IUU fishing it is essential to give priority
to compliance and enforcement measures, including effective
port State measures, listing of vessels, and developing and
implementing integrated monitoring, control and
surveillance packages.

"It is important to sustainably manage fish stocks and
protect vulnerable marine ecosystems and thus balance
sustainable use and conservation," he added.

Ahamed also emphasised the importance of the principle of
freedom of navigation including the right of innocent passage
as well as transit passage through straits used for
international navigation.

"States bordering straits may adopt laws or regulations
relating to transit passage through straits, but such laws
should be enforced in a manner that is non-discriminatory," he
added.

Referring to attacks by pirates and armed robbers in the
Asian region, Ahamed said that there has been decrease in such
incidents because of increased national action and regional
cooperation.

In February this year, Ahamed told the delegates at the
192-member Assembly, India too launched an important regional
maritime security initiative, namely, the "Indian Ocean Naval
Symposium" with focus on 'Constructive Engagement' amongst all
littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.


Its primary aim is to sustain a regionally relevant,
consultative forum to promote a shared understanding of issues
and concerns relevant to the Indian Ocean region, which bear
upon maritime security, he said. PTI