Co-Operative Mechanism for Straits of Malacca and Singapore Receives Strong International Support
The Singapore Meeting on the Straits of Malacca and Singapore concluded successfully today with strong all-round support from the international maritime community for a new co-operation framework for the Straits. The Meeting was jointly convened with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), in close co-operation with Indonesia and Malaysia.
The Singapore Meeting witnessed the historic launch of the Co-operative Mechanism, a milestone development which provides a new framework for the littoral States of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore to work together with the international maritime community to further enhance navigational safety and environmental protection in the Straits.
International Support for Historic Initiative
Strong international support was received for the launch of the Co-operative Mechanism from the 252 participants at the Singapore Meeting, representing 50 countries and 17 maritime-related organisations. Specifically, countries such as Australia, Bahamas, China, Cyprus, Germany, India, Japan, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States of America spoke out during the meeting to give their explicit support for the Co-operative Mechanism. In addition, non-government organisations such as the Nippon Foundation, the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (Intertanko) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) voiced their clear support for the initiative as well. The parties look forward to participating in the meetings to be further held under the Co-operative Mechanism.
Show of Concrete Support
In fact, there was overwhelming support for the projects with Australia, China, Japan, Republic of Korea and the United States of America reaffirming or announcing their commitment for five out of the six projects. Most of these countries expressed their support for more than one project. The details of the support are:
- Project on Response to Hazardous and Noxious Substance Incidents (Project 2): China and the United States of America updated the meeting of the needs assessment survey which they had conducted in the three littoral States. Australia also announced its interest in contributing to this project.
- Project on Class B Transponders on Small Ships (Project 3): Australia, Japan, and Republic of Korea announced their intention to contribute to this project.
- Project on Setting up a Tide, Current and Wind Measurement System (Project 4): China also committed to sending a team of experts to conduct a needs assessment survey in the littoral States for this project.
- Project on Replacement and Maintenance of Aids to Navigation (Project 5): Japan and the Republic of Korea announced their intention to contribute to this project.
- Project on Aids to Navigation Damaged by Tsunami (Project 6): China, jointly with Indonesia, updated the Meeting on the progress for this project, which will be undertaken by China in its entirety.
(Please see attachments for further information on the six projects under the Co-operative Mechanism)
For the Aids to Navigation Fund, the Nippon Foundation, a Japanese non-government organisation, expressed a firm commitment to fund up to one-third of the needs of the Fund, while the Republic of Korea announced its intention to contribute to the Fund.
Beyond these countries that had expressed concrete support, a number of other countries, such as Panama and Germany, announced their interest and are studying how they could also participate in the Co-operative Mechanism.
The Singapore Statement
The Meeting also adopted the Singapore Statement which outlined the consensus of the participants in their collective efforts to enhance navigational safety and protect the marine environment in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. In particular, the Statement reiterated the agreement reached at the Singapore Meeting that the Co-operative Mechanism should be supported and encouraged.
(Please see attachments for text of Singapore Statement)
Moving Forward
The Co-operative Mechanism was developed and completed in a relatively short span of two years, and it reflects the excellent co-operation among the three littoral States, as well as the broad consensus achieved between the littoral States and users of the Straits. With the Mechanism in place, there is now a regular platform for ongoing dialogue between the littoral States and Straits users, as well as a structured framework for concrete co-operation with the international maritime community.
The littoral States are now working towards convening the inaugural meetings of the three components of the Co-operative Mechanism in 2008. These meetings are expected to be held annually.
End of Release.
Attached:
Background information on projects under the Co-operative Mechanism