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)