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PM calls for institutionalisation of co-operation between navies

Josy Joseph in Bombay

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Sunday called for an institutional set up for co-operation between international navies and strengthening of co-ordination between the Indian Ocean Rim countries.

Addressing the grand city parade at Marine Drive in south Bombay, the prime minister expressed hope that the International Fleet Review would be the first step towards such an arrangement.

"Only when we have institutionalised an arrangement that we can actually say that we have built bridges of friendship. I hope the International Fleet Review is the first step towards this," Vajpayee said from a stand erected in front of the Oberoi Hotel facing the sea at Marine Drive.

He said the fact that 15 of the over 20 foreign ships (participating in the fleet review) were from countries in the Indian Ocean Rim was evident of the need for such a co-operation. He said there should be a "move towards collaboration" in this region.

The prime minister said it was time to rewrite the historical thinking that seas and oceans are dividing features between countries. "Let us start that process with the Indian Ocean," he said.

He said the Indian Navy plays a crucial role in India's co-operation with other countries, especially those that share maritime borders. Active co-operation between navies is a must in these times of sea piracy, gun running and drug menace, which are all part of international terrorism, he said.

Applauding the Indian Navy for its historic effort in organising the fleet review, the prime minister said not very many of us would know that even Vedic texts had references to maritime activities. He pointed out that India is at the centre of the Indian Ocean, not just from a geographical perspective but from trade and economic points of view too.

Earlier, the prime minister released a First Day Cover and four stamps to mark the fleet review.

The first stamp depicted the "potsherd" painting of a boat belonging to Mohanjodaro period, which was part of the IFR logo. The second and third stamps depicted the Pal and Galbat - two types of ships which participated in the fleet reviews of Maratha navy in the 18th century at Ratnagiri. The fourth stamp showed the training ship -- Tarangini -- of the Indian Navy.

The First Day Cover has a symbolic representation of the wide participation of ships at the review. The cancellation over the cover is the crest of the Indian Navy, with its motto Shan-no-Varuna, which means "May the Ocean God Varuna be auspicious unto us."

Union Telecommunication Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and Navy chief Admiral Sushil Kumar also addressed the gathering.

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