Commander of Iran's Navy Habibbollah Sayyari noted the importance of the conference adding “several issues are on the agenda of the conference including analysis of the importance of the Indian Ocean in the world, the significance of north of the ocean in global trade, the role of the region’s economy as well as the link between Southeast Asia and the European Union (UN)."
“The three-day biannual conference will be participated by the Indian Ocean littoral states, a number of American, European and East Asian countries as well as university professors and experts of marine sciences who are slated to discuss issues of interest,” underlined Sayyari.
The navy commander further enumerated various topics which will be discussed at the meeting including piracy in Bab el-Mandeb, the Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Malaga between Malaysia and Indonesia, the environment, assistance to vessels as well as the presence of naval forces in the Indian Ocean’s rim.
“The Iranian delegation will attend the conference in order to introduce Iran’s naval capacities in providing security as well as engineering experience, repair and maintenance issues, knowledge of surface and subsurface units,” he underlined.
Sayyari further noted the successful escort of 3200 commercial ships and oil tankers by the Iranian navy; “Iran’s Navy is one of the best in the world in terms of maritime security hence the participants’ willingness to take advantage of these experiences.”
The Iranian commander estimated that more than 12 meetings will be held with foreign officials including Bangladesh’s navy commander.
“Iran is scheduled to host the next meeting of the navy commanders of the Indian Ocean littoral states in 2018,” concluded Sayyari.
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