CHENNAI: Maritime cooperation among the nations of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is essential for tackling piracy, terrorism and pollution of oceans, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command Arun Kumar Singh said on Wednesday.

The need for cooperation assumed greater relevance in the context of the 9/11terror attack and the 2004 tsunami. While the 9/11 events held far reaching implications for security, the other focussed on environment and economy, Vice Admiral Singh said, participating in the inauguration of a three-day-seminar at Kovalam, near here, on the changing oceanic landscape in the IOR. Noting that the nations in the region had begun to tap resources of the oceans, he called for networking of ship reporting systems and linking regional associations. Latest technologies should be adopted, while achieving greater cooperation.

Boundary issues

Pointing out that the country had settled maritime boundary issues with all its neighbours except Pakistan and Bangladesh, the Naval officer stressed the need for resolving the issue with the two nations too. A United Nations panel, dealing with such matters, had given many extensions for sorting out such issues. The present deadline would expire early next year.

If the countries were not able to come to an understanding, there was a possibility of the U.N. committee declaring those territories disputed. That might lead to providing free access to other nations for tapping resources in the areas.

Rajiv Sikri, former Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry, explained the genesis of the formulation of the `Look East' policy being adopted by the country.

Domestic dimension

Closer ties with nations in East Asia had a domestic dimension too. This would pave the way for integration of the Northeastern States with the rest of the country in addition to facilitating faster economic development of NE States.

On the relationship with China, Mr Sikri said the emphasis had been on building on commonalities and new areas of mutual cooperation. Calling upon Indian policymakers to devote greater attention and resources to East Asia, he said a change in the mindset of some of India's neighbours was also required.

V.R. Raghavan, president of the Centre for Security Analysis, which organised the seminar, said his organisation had been working to ensure that security perspectives of the southern peninsular factored adequately in the country's policies.

Reinhold P. Babel, Director, Institute for International Contact and Cooperation in Hanns Seidel Foundation, said in India, the Foundation was working on political dialogue, women's empowerment and vocational training.

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