Converting Indian Ocean into Zone of Peace:

Sri Lanka planning to explore new approaches to revive concept

Acting External Affairs Minister DEW Gunasekera told Parliament yesterday that Sri Lanka was planning to explore new approaches to revive the concept of converting the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace, despite the heavy opposition from major power players in the UN. He said that Sri Lanka had taken this initiative several decades ago, but had been confronted with heavy resistance from the US, the UK and France.

Responding to a question raised by UPFA Ratnapura District MP Ranjith De Soyza, the minister said that former Prime Minister, the late Sirimavo Bandaranaike, had initiated the concept of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace (IOPZ). During the Twenty-Sixth Session of the United Nation’s General Assembly on December 16, 1971, a resolution entitled ‘Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace,’ had been adopted.

Subsequently, an ad hoc committee on the Indian Ocean had been established in 1972 to study the implications of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Peace Zone. However, it has not yet been possible to reach consensus among the member states on the implementation of the declaration.

The agreed objective of the declaration of the IOPZ was to insulate the Indian Ocean from great power rivalries that existed during the1970s. Given the divergence of views among member states, especially the US, UK and France opposing the General Assembly resolution, progress made in achieving the objectives of the declaration have been limited. However, since the objectives of the declaration remain valid even to date, notwithstanding the aforementioned differences, any major conflict or strain among major powers within the Indian Ocean limits had so far been prevented. Relative peace in the Indian Ocean has enabled littoral states, including Sri Lanka and others, to have safe and free navigation via maritime routes in the Indian Ocean.

It has also helped minimizing any threat that can pose to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries in the Indian Ocean limits, due to any heavy presence of rival militeries. Sri Lanka continues to be the chair of the ad hoc Committee on IOPZ, which has helped in enhancing the profile and image of Ceylon/Sri Lanka in the international arena.

The original membership of the committee had increased from 15 to 43 members. Sri Lanka explores new approaches to keep the IOPZ active and mutually beneficial to all parties, including the P3 countries - The USA, UK and France, the acting minister said.