Maritime security agreement signed

BY KYOHEI MATSUDA
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
2009/12/30

NEW DELHI--Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh, agreed Tuesday on an action plan for greater cooperation in maritime security.

The two leaders signed a joint statement that included a number of specific measures for a comprehensive national security cooperation framework that was agreed upon in October 2008 between Singh and Prime Minister Taro Aso.

Tuesday's agreement covers nine areas, including frequent discussions between the top officials of the two countries' foreign and defense ministries to strengthen cooperation to protect sea lanes in the Indian Ocean.

The agreement also calls for maritime security dialogue and joint training exercises as well as cooperative measures to deal with natural disasters. India and Japan have dispatched naval vessels off Somalia to deal with pirates.

In an interview with an Indian newspaper, Hatoyama said it is important for the Indian Navy and the Maritime Self-Defense Force to improve interoperability and coordination in anti-piracy measures and protecting sea lanes.

In his meeting with Singh, Hatoyama urged India to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty as soon as possible. Singh indicated India might ratify the treaty if the United States and China signed on.

Singh also expressed understanding toward Hatoyama's proposal for an East Asia community.

But the two leaders could not push forward discussions on an economic partnership agreement (EPA). Among the issues on which the two sides were far apart were simplifying the process for approving medicines and improving the status of Indian nationals living in Japan.

The two leaders confirmed they would instruct government officials to accelerate discussions on an EPA.(IHT/Asahi: December 30,2009)