India to donate three aircraft as boost for surveillance |20 July 2010

The donation will comprise a Dornier surveillance plane and two Chetak helicopters, Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony said after calling on President James Michel for talks at State House.

Mr Antony also handed over a consignment of 10 portable VHF/UHF radio sets and two high-frequency manpack radio sets for the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces, which were accepted by Mr Michel as commander-in-chief.

Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Paul Adam and secretary of state Barry Faure were also present, along with the Indian high commissioner in Seychelles Asit Kumar Nag, Seychelles’ ambassador to India Dick Esparon and a delegation from the Indian Coast Guard.

Mr Michel thanked the government and people of India for the important donation, saying: “This is a concrete example of the special partnership Seychelles has with India. Together we are ensuring the security of the Indian Ocean and the free flow of maritime traffic.

“We are grateful to India for all the assistance we have received in the fight against piracy, which will consolidate our defence capabilities. This donation comes shortly after my visit to India, and I am pleased that cooperation is continuing on such a fast track.”

Talking to the media after the meeting, Mr Antony said his visit was a follow-up to Mr Michel’s official visit to India last month when the Indian government pledged a US $5 million defence grant to Seychelles.

He said the two countries have an excellent relationship, and his government will do everything to support Seychelles in its continuing fight against piracy, which was the focus of his talks with the President.

“It is a problem that calls for cooperation among all countries. The Indian Ocean links us all and is critical for our economic interests. We must cooperate to ensure peace and stability in this region,” said Mr Antony.

The military plane and helicopters will be produced at Hindustan Aeronautics, Bangalore, in the coming months, he added. But India is aware of the urgent needs of Seychelles for increased air surveillance and so its government will soon deploy an in-service Dornier plane from its own fleet.

“New Delhi will try to supply the new aircraft in 15 months. During this period, India will provide one of her in-service Dornier aircraft to carry out maritime surveillance,” he said.

Mr Antony said India will also provide help with new coastal radar systems, and the Indian Navy will pay extra visits this year to carry out surveillance and hydrographic survey work in Seychelles’ waters.

And India will help Seychelles in capacity building of its armed forces. There will be training programmes for the special forces, as well as in the operation of coastal radar systems.

Mr Adam thanked Mr Antony for coming to Seychelles so soon after Mr Michel’s visit to India.

“It is a true mark of the strength of the friendship between India and Seychelles,” he said.
“It is also very encouraging for us to see how quickly many of the projects that were agreed by President Michel are moving forward in such a pro-active manner.

“We share an ocean, and the security of that ocean depends on us being able to work together. I think the manner in which our defence forces have been able to work together is exemplary.”

During his visit to State House Mr Antony also called on Vice-President Danny Faure.