(http://www.AugustEnergy.biz/, October 15, Thursday) --- MPA press release...
(Speech by Director, Msd Mr. Koji Sekimizu, on behalf of The Secretary-General International Maritime Organization, at IMO 2nd C0-Operation Forum Meeting of the Cooperative Mechanism or The Straits of Malacca and Singapore, 14 October 2009, 9.30am at Singapore)
Opening address by
Mr. Koji Sekimizu, Director, MSD on behalf of the Secretary-General
International Maritime Organization
His Excellency, Mr. Raymond Lim,Minister of Transport of Singapore,
Distinguished participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure for me to be with you here today to address this meeting, on behalf of the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Mr. Efthimios Mitropoulos, who regrettably could not attend himself, due to previous other commitments.
The importance of the Co-operation Forum cannot be over emphasized. It provides an opportunity for dialogue and open discussion among the littoral states and the users and forms an indispensable component of the Co-operative Mechanism for the Malacca and SingaporeStraits which was established as a main product of the IMO-sponsored meetings held in this region between 2005 and 2007 in co-operation with the Governments of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
When considering the outcome of the 2007 Singapore Meeting on the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, the IMO Council, at its twenty-fourth extraordinary session in November 2007, agreed that the Organization should contribute to the implementation of the Co-operative Mechanism. It authorized the Secretary-General to provide every assistance possible in attracting sponsors for the projects which will be implemented under the framework of the Co‑operative Mechanism, including promoting financial contributions for the establishment, maintenance, repair and replacement of aids to navigation in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.
Pursuant to that decision and following the pledge by Greece, at the twenty-fifth regular session of the Assembly, to contribute US$1 million, we have established the IMO Malacca and Singapore Straits Trust Fund under the stewardship of the Secretary-General to support the projects identified by the littoral States.
I would like to stress here again today, that this IMO Fund is not to be perceived as competing with any funds the three littoral States already have established or may establish within the framework of the Co-operative Mechanism. It will, instead, have a complementary role to play. While the initiative for the mobilization of resources for the implementation of the project on aids to navigation in the Straits is left to the littoral States, IMO will support it, as feasible and within the financial limitations of the IMO Fund, while the Secretariat will take action to promote and implement other projects in conjunction with the 3 littoral States. In this context, the Secretary-General had initiated the development of the Joint Technical Arrangement between the littoral States and IMO on co-operation between them and the Organization on safety and environmental protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (JTA), which has now been finalized, thanks to the strenuous efforts by all parties concerned. I am personally very pleased to be able to attend this meeting and join in the signing ceremony for the Joint Technical Arrangement which is expected to take place during this morning’s session on the occasion of the opening of this 2nd Co-operation Forum Meeting.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I consider the fact that the three littoral States have acted in such a timely manner and continue to display a strong determination to move matters forward, thereby building on the momentum established by the IMO‑sponsored meetings, to be extremely positive and encouraging. The Co‑operative Mechanism is now in full swing. I would like to take this opportunity of expressing sincere appreciation to all involved in the activities of the Co‑operative Mechanism and particularly those who provided significant contributions including: Australia, China, India, Japan, Republicof Korea, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, the Nippon Foundation, MENAS, and the Malacca Straits Council. In accordance with our Council’s decisions, the IMO Secretariat is fully engaged and provides every possible assistance in the implementation of the Co‑operative Mechanism and intends to contribute, through the IMO Fund, to the various projects to facilitate their execution. I am sure we all agree that this excellent progress initiated by the three littoral States, in the establishment and implementation of the Co-operative Mechanism is very commendable indeed and we are all looking forward to further fruitful developments in years to come.
In closing, I would like to reiterate my sincere thanks, on behalf of IMO, to the Government of Singapore for hosting the various meetings this week and for their generous hospitality. I also thank the Governments of Indonesia and Malaysia for their co-operation in preparing for these meetings to ensure their success.
Thank you.
No comments:
Post a Comment