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MDLOAN 79
ASIAN WATERS WAS CONSIDERED, HOWEVER AFTER CONSULTATIONS IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE TO SEEK COASTAL STATE AUTHORITY FOR ANY RN INTERVENTION. THIS WAS PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE SENSITIVITIES OF COASTAL STATES WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IT IS TO POLICE THE WATERS WHERE MANY OF THE ATTACKS TAKE PLACE AND ALSO THE VIEW THAT THE UK SHOULD NOT BE SEEN TO ACT ALONE ON WHAT IS AN INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM.
OUR
5. IT WAS DECIDED THEREFORE TO SOUND OUT OTHER MERCHANT SHIPPING NATIONS ON A POSSIBLE INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE. FAVOURED APPROACH WOULD BE TO SEEK A SOLUTION THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION (IMO). THE IMO HAS RESTRICTED ITSELF SO FAR TO COLLATING STATISTICS ON ATTACKS AND DISSEMINATING APPROPRIATE WARNINGS TO MARINERS. THE SECRETARY-GENERAL, MR W A O'NEIL, HAS WRITTEN TO THE GOVERNMENTS OF INDONESIA, MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE EXPRESSING HIS CONCERN BUT WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY RESPONSE. WE BELIEVE THAT THE IMO SHOULD NOW PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE AND AT AN IMO COUNCIL MEETING ON 16 JUNE WE ASKED MR O'NEIL TO TAKE WHATEVER MEASURES ARE APPROPRIATE TO TACKLE THIS PROBLEM. THIS COULD TAKE THE FORM OF CONVENING AD HOC REGIONAL CONFERENCES ON PIRACY OR BY ENCOURAGING SCHEMES DESIGNED TO FOSTER COOPERATION BETWEEN COASTAL STATES AND AFFECTED MARITIME STATES.
6. BEFORE MAKING ANY FURTHER MOVES WE NEED TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION ON THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM AND WHAT INITIATIVES OTHER
MERCHANT SHIPPING NATIONS MIGHT SUPPORT.
HURD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
63
AMD
SEAD
HKD
LAD
WED
NAD
FED
ADDITIONAL 2
F WALK/DTP.
H PUGH | SEC NS/NAVY
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DISTRIBUTION
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SPD
WAD
LEGAL ADVISERS
PS/LENNOX-BOYD
PS/GOODLAD
MR BONE
2
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