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Revised accord on Assomption signed |29 January 2018

Seychelles will be receiving facilities on Assomption island from the government of India which will enhance our maritime surveillance and defence capabilities of the south west area of Mahé.

This follows the signing on Saturday morning of a revised agreement between the two countries, which is an improvement on the original text which was signed on March 11, 2015.

Through this agreement, the government of India is to develop and maintain the defence facilities on Assomption at no cost to the government of Seychelles.

The agreement was signed at the Maison Quéau de Quinssy at Mont Fleuri by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Barry Faure and the Indian Foreign Secretary, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

It is expected to enhance the control and maritime surveillance over Seychelles’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ); protect our seas against illegal fishing and exploitation of its marine resources, piracy and other illegal activities; improve on our capability to search and rescue in the region for the benefit of air and shipping traffic; and strengthen our presence over the outer islands situated in the EEZ.

The agreement will now be presented before the National Assembly for ratification as per article 64 (4) of the Constitution and once approved the project will be implemented.

Dr Jaishankar said the Indian government is satisfied with the reviewed document as it has built on the concepts of 2015 and they regard this agreement as a shared endeavour so it was important that Seychelles’ concerns were fully respected and the interest and objectives of the Indian side are also met.

“It is a relationship of deep trust since 1976 so it is important that this project goes forward in the same atmosphere of trust, so we were very open to discuss the terms and reach common ground on the arrangements,” he said.

He pointed out that as Indian exports grow and energy consumption increases, mostly all their oil and gas come from abroad and a vast amount of their shipping passes through our waters. 

“In many ways, the safety and security of the Indian Ocean, the states of the Indian Ocean and the EEZ of the states of the Indian Ocean is part of India’s security because this is our economic life. We see this as a very strong point of conversion as in this case everything that is of Seychelles’ interest is automatically of India’s interest,” he said.

Dr Jaishankar stated that this cooperation is further intensified by the operation of the coastal surveillance radar system in place since March 2016.

On behalf of the government of Seychelles, Ambassador Faure thanked the government of India for accepting our request to relook at the original text with a view to improving it.

“The government of Seychelles felt that there was a need for more clarity in the legal provisions in order to ensure the proper and successful implementation, execution and use of the facilities as the constitutional requirement of parliamentary ratification had to be adhered to,” he said.

He noted that India and Seychelles share the same oceanic space and believe in the Indian Ocean zone of peace and in international peace and security.

“We are both committed to investing and cooperating, each according to our means, in the preservation of peace and security and ensuring that the oceans remain safe for peaceful, sustainable and mutually beneficial purposes; for safe maritime and air traffic; for our common prosperity and that of the peoples of the region and the world; today and tomorrow,” he said.

He said the agreement was reviewed to improve on the legal aspect document as it is required to go through the National Assembly and the language needs to be clearer and in line with the Constitution.

Ambassador Faure also noted a series of upcoming activities which will boost the two countries’ friendship and cooperation.

In March our two leaders will be meeting at the Delhi Founding Conference of the International Solar Agency and in April, there will be the India-Seychelles Joint Commission Session on Bilateral Cooperation in Victoria. Later in the year, President Danny Faure will proceed to India on a state visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Present during the signing was the Minister for Foreign Affairs Vice-President Vincent Meriton, the Indian High Commissioner, Dr Ausaf Sayeed, Chief of Defence Forces Brigadier Leopold Payet, the Attorney General Frank Ally, members of the Indian High Commission other members of the committee who reviewed the agreement.

 

 

 

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