RESTRICTED
160336
MDHOA 634
PROBLEM REQUIRED THE COOPERATION OF THE COASTAL STATES. HE THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS SCOPE FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) CO-ORDINATION CENTRES CALREADY ESTABLISHED UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE IMO) TO BE USED AS REPORTING CENTRES FOR ATTACKS ON SHIPPING. THEY WERE RELIABLE AND OPERATED ON A 24 HOUR BASIS. SOUTH EAST ASIA COULD BE USED FOR AN EXPERIMENTAL SCHEME WHICH COULD BE EXTENDED LATER IF SUCCESSFUL. O'NEIL VOLUNTEERED THAT PIRACY REQUIRED ACTION AND THAT INITIATIVES COULD NOT
AWAIT NORMAL IMO COMMITTEE TIMETABLES.
5.
FOLLOWING OUR DISCUSSION O'NEIL UNDERTOOK TO RAISE PIRACY
WITH OFFICIALS DURING HIS FORTHCOMING VISIT TO SINGAPORE AND AUSTRALIA. (THE VISIT TO SINGAPORE WAS ORIGINALLY A PRIVATE ONE). WE HAVE TOLD HIM OF YOUR KIND OFFER TO SEE HIM AND OFFER ASSISTANCE. HE MAY WELL CONTACT YOU. HE ARRIVES IN
SINGAPORE ON BA011 AT 1350 ON 1 JULY AND DEPARTS ON BA011 AT 1125 ON 3 JULY ARRIVING IN SYDNEY AT 2045.
6. O'NEIL UNDERTOOK TO REPORT ON HIS VISIT WHEN HE RETURNS FROM AUSTRALIA AND AFTER HE HAS DISCUSSED FURTHER WITH HIS SECRETARIAT. IN ANY CASE LORD CAITHNESS (NOW MINISTER AT THE DTP) WILL BE MEETING O'NEIL ON 18 JULY.
7.
SUBSEQUENTLY WE SPOKE TO MITROPOULOS, IMO DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF MARINE SAFETY. HE GAVE US A MORE CLEARLY DEFINED ACCOUNT OF IMO POLICY. UNDER CURRENT IMO PROCEDURES FLAG
STATES ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT ATTACKS TO IMO. IMO THEN WRITES TO THE STATE IN WHOSE JURISDICTION THE ATTACK TOOK PLACE, (IF NOT ON THE HIGH SEAS), ASKING FOR A FOLLOW UP REPORT. FIFTY PER CENT OF THESE REQUESTS GO UNANSWERED. BASED ON THESE PROCEDURES THE IMO ISSUES A CIRCULAR EVERY THREE MONTHS INFORMING MEMBER STATES ABOUT PROBLEM AREAS. MITROPOULOS SAID THAT O'NEIL'S LETTER OF 15 MAY HAD ASKED COASTAL STATES TO REPORT ON THEIR PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING IMO ASSEMBLY RESOLUTIONS. O'NEIL HAD ALSO FLOATED THE IDEA OF A REGIONAL SEMINAR. THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE OF THE IMO HAD ASKED
STATES TO NOMINATE A CENTRAL AUTHORITY TO RECEIVE REPORTS OF ATTACKS ON SHIPS. AS NONE HAD RESPONDED IMO COULD PROPOSE
THAT SAR CENTRES TAKE ON THIS FUNCTION WORLDWIDE AND AS A
FIRST EXPERIMENT IN SOUTH EAST ASIAN WATERS.
8.
(FOR HONG KONG) O'NEIL TOLD US THAT HE MET SOEHARTO IN SEPTEMBER 1991. THERE HAD BEEN MANY FINE WORDS, BUT LITTLE FOLLOW UP ACTION. WE AGREE WITH JAKARTA THAT ANY FURTHER VISIT TO INDONESIA BY O'NEIL WOULD NEED TO BE WELL PREPARED.
2
PAGE RESTRICTED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.