Indonesian President Joko Widodo (center) talks to Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as South African President Jacob G Zuma (left) looks on after a press conference on the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Summit in Jakarta, Tuesday (7/3). The summit produced the Jakarta Concord, which comprises 19 agreements by member countries.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — With the signing of the Jakarta Accord on Tuesday, the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) members have laid the foundation and set out the guidelines for future cooperation and the advancement of the region
The agreement reflects the commitment of the association’s 21 members to comply with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to respect national integrity and the equality of every member, as well as reaffirming the declaration of the Indian Ocean as a zone of peace and the commitment to build peace and prosperity.
The commitment serves as a guideline for IORA members to manage and develop the area as a region that is stable, peaceful and safe. These guidelines are important because they are a major prerequisite in promoting cultural, social and political cooperation among member countries.
The Jakarta Concord, which contains 19 points of understanding and commitment, was signed during the first IORA Summit in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The document was approved after a series of meetings between senior officials and ministers before it was finally signed by IORA member leaders. Before the document was signed, participants held an open debate behind closed doors. The document was signed at around noon.
The Jakarta Concord reaffirms the commitment to cooperate in six sectors. First, promoting security and maritime safety. Second, promoting trade and investment cooperation. Third, promoting the development of sustainable and responsible fisheries. Next is to strengthen disaster risk management and promote academic cooperation and science and finally to promote tourism and cultural cooperation.
"The summit is a milestone and a renewed commitment by member countries to intensify cooperation. All the leaders are aware of the challenges faced today, they also realize the importance of the Indian Ocean that unites IORA member states," President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said during a joint news conference with South African President Jacob Zuma and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull before closing the IORA summit.
In addition to the three leaders, the first IORA Summit was also attended by several heads of state and government, including Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Vice President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari, and Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.
All the members expressed their appreciation of the initiative made by Indonesia, chair of the organization for 2015-2017 period, to promote understanding among IORA members. They said that Indonesia had successfully brought the association to a higher level. In addition to economic cooperation, the main reason for the establishment of the association, members also recognized the importance of a safe and stable Indian Ocean. Cooperation should be based on the values and understandings agreed in the Jakarta Concord.
Turnbull welcomed the breakthrough made by Jokowi in affirming a shared commitment to achieving security, peace, stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region.
He said the Jakarta Concord produced during the first IORA Summit was a shared commitment by the association’s members to achieve their mission and had laid the groundwork to promote cooperation in the context of a blue economy, women’s empowerment, as well as maritime security and the management of natural resources such as fisheries and marine life.
Besides the Jakarta Concord, the IORA leaders also agreed on an action plan and a joint declaration to prevent and fight terrorism and violent extremism. Indonesia, according to Turnbull, had already proved and demonstrated that Islam, democracy and simplicity could go hand in hand. According to Turnbull, they could not be separated from the role and leadership of President Jokowi.
In the joint declaration, all IORA members agreed to fight every kind of terrorism and violent extremism. Cooperation to counter the threat of terrorism and violent extremism should be supported by dialogues and sharing of information, expertise and experience among member states, as well as monitoring terrorism financing.
Cooperation in curbing terrorism and the spread of extreme ideology should be carried out through the promotion of tolerance, inclusiveness, diversity and social cohesion, as well as through the promotion of education, the empowerment of communities and women.
