The IORA Leaders Summit resulted in an outcome called IORA Declaration on Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism which was signed by IORA leaders.
In the declaration, IORA member states acknowledge that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes a serious threat to regional and international peace and security, as well as undermines economic development and social cohesion.
According to them, terrorism and violent extremism are not bound by national boundaries and requires cooperation at local, national, regional, and international levels.
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi previously said, after a Council of Ministers Meeting of IORA on Monday, that the declaration was a joint commitment of IORA members to cooperate in facing the threat of terrorism and violent extremism through cooperation in dialogue and sharing expertise, best practices, and lesson learnt, as well as promoting the messages of moderation and tolerance.
Meanwhile, Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop stated that Australia has also viewed terrorism and extremism as current challenges for countries in the Indian Ocean.
"Many Indian Ocean region countries are at the forefront of countering terrorism and violent extremism," Bishop remarked.
During the IORA Leaders Summit, President Joko Widodo affirmed that the Indian Ocean is the region of the future.
"We believe that the Indian Ocean is currently developing into a key axis in the world," Widodo stated in his opening remarks during the First Summit of the IORA at the Jakarta Convention Center here on Tuesday.
The other IORA leaders who attended the summit include President of South Africa Jacob Zuma, President of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi, President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Tun Abdul Razak, and President of Yemen Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, among others.
The IORA Leaders Summit has also resulted in two other documents, namely the Jakarta Concord and the IORA Action Plan.
The Jakarta Concord titled "Promoting Regional Cooperation for a Peaceful, Stable, and Prosperous Indian Ocean" aims to lay the foundation and set the course for cooperation of Indian Ocean states in the coming years.
Meanwhile, the IORA Action Plan outlines various activities related to the listed priorities for the coming years and comprises of various short-, medium-, and long-term initiatives.
The action plan is a significant milestone in IORAs journey and becomes the first of its kind since the establishment of the association two decades ago.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
