Iran makes veiled attack on US over global economic crisis

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Nov 15: Iran today used the Indian Ocean
Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) platform to
make an indirect attack on the US, blaming its policies for
the present global economic crisis.
Addressing the 11th Council of Ministers Meeting of the
18-member regional grouping here, Iran Deputy Foreign Minister
Mohammad Mehdi Akhondzadeh noted that, "The economic crisis
caused by unjust global financial and economic mismanagement
by a certain power has created a situation that no single
country could escape its negative impact on its overall
development programmes."
Akhondzadeh said certain countries wanted to make
"instrumental exploitation" of international economy and
political bodies in favour of their own interest.
No significant change would be expected to occur in the
global economic status unless every country played its role in
reforming the present economic situation, he said.
Other speakers at the meeting dwelt on the issue of sea
piracy and pressed the need for coordinated action to fight
the menace.
Supporting any action taken to overcome the problem of
piracy, Malaysia, however, said regional and international
cooperation in combating piracy should not undermine
sovereignty and territorial integrity of member countries.
"Malaysia believes that the primary responsibility for
dealing with piracy and armed robbery against ships should
remain with littoral or coastal states," Malaysian Deputy
Foreign Affairs Minister Y B Datuk Richard Anak Jaem said.
Oman Ambassador Talib bin Miran Alraisi said the most
effective way to end piracy in the Horn of Africa would be to
restore effective government in Somalia.
He said the earlier outbreak of piracy in the Straits of
Malacca was reduced by effective international cooperation and
negotiated settlement of insurgency.
"The danger of piracy can be contained with a more
coordinated, creative and courageous international response.
We have the means and it can be done without major armed
expeditions. What it requires is collective political will,"
Alraisi said.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said effective port
administration, well-equipped enforcement agency, judicial and
legislative capacity-building as well as counter-piracy
measures in the ships could bring down the incidents of piracy
in Indian Ocean.
Moni stressed the need for creating a good order at the
sea which would prevent illegal fishing activities in Somali
waters by other nations.
Complaining about projects not coming to fruition, he said
there was a need for revitalising focus in areas of
cooperation.
"A greater level of political commitment may also be
crucial to expedite progress on the projects undertaken and
envisaged," Moni said.
Mauritius Foreign Affairs Minister Arvin Boolell said
effective prosecution of captured pirates could bring down
incidents of piracy.
In this regard, Mauritius signed on July 14, 2011 with
European Union an agreement defining conditions and modalities
for transfer of suspected pirates from the European-led naval
force and also prosecution of them, he informed.