The Hindu : National : India transfers naval ship to Maldives

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Monday, Apr 17, 2006

National

National

India transfers naval ship to Maldives

Sandeep Dikshit

Navy to assist Male in maintaining the ship in its lifetime

BIDDING ADIEU: A Navy contingent lowering the Naval flag aboard INS Tillangchang during the decommissioning of the ship prior to its handing over to Maldives Navy, at Male port on Sunday. — Photo: PTI

MALE: Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Sunday that the transfer of Indian naval ship Tillanchang to Maldives was to ensure an atmosphere of peace, stability and tranquillity in the region so that both countries could attend to socio-economic development free from external interference. Astride some crucial sea-lanes in the Indian Ocean, Maldives is the cynosure of several countries vying for a foothold in the region.

Referring to the observations of the former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, during her visit here in 1975 that India did not subscribe to the concept of big and small nations, he said New Delhi would always use its strength to promote peace and help neighbours and friendly countries.

Mr. Mukherjee underlined this point during a joint press conference with Maldivian Foreign Minister at the holiday resort island of Kurumba later in the day.

The transfer of ship was part of the cooperation between the two nations in the fight against terrorism, piracy and smuggling under the broad framework of United Nations conventions. Ties between the two were not uni-dimensional but encompassed economic, cultural and educational fields, he added.

He said the request for the ship, to perform multiple tasks such as patrolling the exclusive economic zone and taking action against non-state actors, had come from the Maldives Government. "When we received an inquiry about a patrol craft from the Government of Maldives, we fully understood the urgent nature of this request."

The ship was decommissioned from the Indian Navy and transferred to Maldives in the presence of its President Maumoom Abdul Gayoom, Defence Minister Isamel Shafeeu and Foreign Minister Ahmad Shaheed in the presence of the Indian High Commissioner to Male A. K. Pandey, senior Defence Ministry official Rita Menon and Chairman and Managing Director of Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (the builders of the ship) Ganeshan. The Indian Navy will assist Maldives in maintaining the ship in its lifetime.

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