Nirendra Dev
Mr Modi would be the first Indian Prime Minister to preside over a UN Security Council Open Debate, which would be about maritime crime and maritime security.
New Delhi: Here's another first coming in the way for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Prime Minister will chair the UN Security Council High-level Open Debate on ‘Enhancing Maritime Security–A Case for International Cooperation’ via video conference on Monday, August 9.
Mr Modi would be the first Indian Prime Minister to preside over a UN Security Council Open Debate.
An official release said that the meeting is expected to be attended by several Heads of State & Government of the United Nations Security Council member states and high-level briefers from the UN System and key Regional Organizations.
Officials in Moscow said Russian President Vladimir Putin would take part in the meeting, among others.
The Open Debate will focus on ways to effectively counter maritime crime and insecurity and strengthen coordination in the maritime domain.
“"The UN Security Council has discussed and passed resolutions on different aspects of maritime security and maritime crime. However, this will be the first time that maritime security will be discussed in a holistic manner as an exclusive agenda item in such a high level open debate," the release said. ”
Given that no country alone can address the diverse aspects of maritime security, it is important to consider this subject holistically in the United Nations Security Council.
The release said that a comprehensive approach to Maritime Security should protect and support legitimate maritime activities while countering traditional and non-traditional threats in the maritime domain.
The Oceans have played an important part in India’s history right from the Indus Valley Civilization.
"Based on our civilizational ethos that sees the seas as an enabler of shared peace and prosperity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi put forward the vision of SAGAR – an acronym for ‘Security and Growth for all in the Region’ in 2015," the release said adding, this vision focuses on cooperative measures for sustainable use of the oceans, and provides a framework for a safe, secure, and stable maritime domain in the region.
In 2019, at the East Asia Summit, this initiative was further elaborated through the Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI) with a focus on seven pillars of maritime security, including Maritime Ecology; Maritime Resources; Capacity Building and Resource Sharing; Disaster Risk Reduction and Management; Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation; and Trade Connectivity and Maritime Transport.
The event will be broadcast live on the United Nations Security Council website around 1730 hours (IST) on Monday.
