United Nations, Sept. 25 -- India on Friday said that repeated attacks on seafarers that disrupt maritime commerce and cost innocent lives are "indefensible" and "unacceptable", as Delhi launched a landmark maritime initiative with Liberia focused on safety and security of sea personnel and shipping.
"From the Black Sea to the Red Sea to the Gulf, attacks on civilian shipping have become a growing cause of concern. These actions that disrupt maritime commerce and cost innocent lives are simply indefensible. We are here to not just highlight this dangerous trend, but to urge the international community to close ranks and deter such attacks," External Affairs minister S Jaishankar said.
Jaishankar, along with Liberia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Sara Beysolow Nyanti, launched the 'Group of Friends on Safety & Security of Shipping & Seafarers' here on the margins of the high-level UN General Assembly session.
India and Liberia will serve as co-chairs of the Group of Friends, which would focus on various aspects of maritime trade, safety, and security. As an inclusive platform, Jaishankar said the
endeavour has been to bring all relevant stakeholders together.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.