New Delhi, Jan 9: Norway on Tuesday called for a new international contract to protect oceans as they interlink countries and said the principle of “might is right” cannot be used for ocean governance.
“Our goal is to come out with a new contract that protect the oceans. Ocean is a common good that interlinks countries,” Prime Minister Erna Solberg said, inaugurating the 4th edition of Raisina Dialogue, the Indian government’s annual geopolitical and geostrategic conference.
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance, the Norwegian premier said as leaders of maritime nations, Norway and India have a special responsibility to protect the oceans as a source of food, health and livelihoods.
By the middle of this century, the world population is expected to have increased to 10 billion people.
“This means that we must look to the oceans in order to ensure sufficient food, jobs, energy and economic growth. But this will only be possible if ocean resources are used and extracted sustainably.
“We all have a stake in building a sustainable blue economy.”
As leaders of maritime nations, she said, India and Norway have a special responsibility to protect the oceans as a source of food, health and livelihoods.
“The bilateral Ocean Dialogue mechanism we established today will provide an excellent tool for this purpose,” she said.
In an oblique reference to the South China Sea over which several countries have claims, Solberg said disputed maritime claims were in areas with an abundance of natural resources.
Achieving an agreement was not easy, but it is important for our future blue economy.
“When large countries respect international law, smaller countries take note. The principle ‘might is right’ cannot be used as a basis for governing our oceans, or anything else, for that matter” she said and commended India for respecting the rulings of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea on the question of disputed maritime areas.
Earlier in the day, the two Prime Ministers noted the importance of sustainable use of the oceans, including for food security, energy sources, mineral exploration and climate friendly maritime transport.
They welcomed the signing of the MoU on India-Norway Ocean Dialogue and the establishment of the Joint Task Force on Blue Economy under aegis of the MoU, in order to promote multi-sectoral cooperation in various aspects of Blue Economy.
