INDIAN OCEAN NAVAL SYMPOSIUM

 

 

 

 

 

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IONS
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On 15th February, 2008, in recognition of the centrality of 'Constructive Engagement' as the primary means of achieving and assuring mutually beneficial maritime security, stability, safety, and consequent collective prosperity amongst all littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), as many as twenty-six Chiefs-of-Navy of these littoral states gathered together 'in open assembly' as also 'in conclave' in New Delhi, to launch the Twenty First Century's first significant regional maritime security initiative, namely, the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium.

'IONS' provides a regional forum through which the 'Chiefs-of-Navy' of all the littoral states of the IOR can periodically meet to constructively engage one another through the creation and promotion of regionally relevant mechanisms, events, and activities. (Within the context of 'IONS', the term 'Chief-of-Navy' is used in a generic sense. Consequently, for such countries as do not possess a formally established 'navy', the term is applicable to the 'head of the principal maritime agency').

While the inaugural event of this newly-launched cooperative, consultative and inclusive regional initiative was the "IONS Seminar-2008" held on 14 and 15 Feb 08, the 'Symposium' itself should not be confused with a 'seminar'. If the 'Symposium' is considered to be the 'set', a seminar would be a 'sub-set'. Indeed, seminars and workshops will remain important activities of the 'Symposium'.


That having been said, the inaugural seminar, which was held in the opulent setting of New Delhi's Vigyan Bhavan, was a two-day intellectual extravaganza, entirely reflective of the confidence, intellectual vibrancy and enthusiasm that now abounds in the Indian Ocean littoral. The formal theme of the seminar was:

"Contemporary Trans-national Challenges - International Maritime Connectivities"

 

Acronym

 

The acronym for the proposed forum is 'IONS'. This acronym seems particularly fitting, since the etymology of the English word 'ions' is drawn from the Greek word 'ienai' meaning 'go' and implying movement (because an ion 'moves' towards an electrode of opposite charge) ....the fundamental concept of IONS, too, is one of 'moving' together, towards a set of continually defined, refined, and redefined goals.

 

Aim

 

The primary aim of 'IONS' is to sustain a regionally relevant, consultative forum within which the navies (and/or the principal maritime agencies responsible for maritime security) of the littoral States of the Indian Ocean Region, along with such other relevant maritime entities as may be agreed upon from time-to-time by the members, can discuss issues and concerns that bear upon maritime security, with a view to arriving at agreed courses of action on trans-national issues, based upon a common understanding of the regional maritime security environment.


 

Objectives

 

1. To promote a shared understanding of issues and concerns relevant to the Indian Ocean Region, which bear upon maritime security.

 

2. To strengthen the capability of all nation-states of the Indian Ocean Region to address present and anticipated challenges to maritime security and stability.

 

3. To establish and promote a variety of trans-national, maritime, consultative and cooperative mechanisms, designed to address and mitigate maritime security-concerns of the Indian Ocean Region.

 

4. To develop interoperability in terms of doctrines, strategies, procedures, organisational and logistic systems, and, operational processes, so as to promote the provision of speedy, responsive, and effective Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster-Relief (HADR) throughout the Indian Ocean Region

 

 

 

Guidelines For Essay Competition - 2009

 

Essays of Winners of IONS 2009 Competition

 

    (a)    NJANDRY.doc

 

    (b)    KRITZ .doc

 

    (c)    OTIST.doc

 

    (d)    SINDBAD.doc