Maritime security key to creating stable environment

Maritime security key to creating stable environment

JAKARTA (JP): Senior naval officers from 17 Asia-Pacific
countries are currently in Jakarta to discuss ways of enhancing
cooperation and maritime security which is an important factor
for economic development.

In a written address at the opening of the Western Pacific
Naval Symposium, Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Tanto
Koeswanto, noted that maritime security is a key element in
sustaining a stable environment for economic development.

"Maritime forces are still in a special position to play a
positive role towards peace and stability in the region," Tanto
said in his speech, read by the Deputy Chief of Staff for Naval
Operations, Vice Admiral Arief Kushariyadi yesterday.

Naval officers from Asia Pacific countries along with
observers from Canada, China, France and the Russian Federation
are taking part in the two-day workshop.

Tanto pointed out that countries in the region have many
common interests and it was thus within everybody's interests
that multilateral cooperation, such as in maritime security, be
forged.

"Regional maritime cooperation is far too important to be
inhibited by geo-political boundaries," Tanto explained.

He further stressed the importance of cooperation by saying
that "not a single country represented here could survive without
prolonged economic cooperation."

"As we move nearer to the 21st century, we are confident that
through our multilateral affiliation, maritime forces are still
in a special position to play a positive role towards peace and
stability in our region," Tanto maintained.

According to Arief Kushariyadi, much of the discussion will
focus on the preservation and protection of the marine
environment.

Arief revealed that despite such a focus and the participation
of France, the symposium would not be discussing the French
nuclear tests in the Pacific.

"The issue of the French nuclear test at Mururoa is not
included in the discussions despite a great deal of the
workshop's attention going towards the protection of marine
environment in the regions," Arief said.

Among the topics which have been agreed upon is "Maritime
Environmental Protection" and "How to Enhance Maritime
Understanding."

"The workshop is aimed at forging regional cooperation so that
a sense of trust and understanding can be instituted into the
realization that the existing of respective navies is not a
threat to a neighbor," Arief explained.

Among the proposals to be discussed is one from Malaysia for
joint naval exercises, while Australia is proposing reciprocal
visits to naval bases.

Japan is forwarding topics which include the role of aircraft
carriers in the region and the settlement of maritime disputes
through diplomatic channels. (mds)