Indian Ocean Cooperation Organisation

[Coin]

For millenia, the Indian Ocean has been a key artery for the many cultures on her shores. The Republic of Indonesia is pleased to report that, following discussions with the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of India, a new international organisation shall founded - aimed at fostering the peaceful development of the region.

Indian Ocean Cooperation Organisation

For millenia, the Indian Ocean has been a highway of commerce and exchange, with goods, people, languages, and ideas making the journey across the high seas. The Indian Ocean Cooperation Organisation - IOCO - is an organisation dedicated to maintaining the status of the Indian Ocean as a safe, secure and sustainable zone of transit - and to further the development of states on the shores of that ocean.

The aims of the IOCO are:

• To promote sustainable growth and cultural exchange between member states.
• To encourage the development of indigenous trade and secure commerce across the Indian Ocean.
• To cooperate on the conservation of historic, geographic and natural features in the region.

The IOCO founding members hereby declare their intent to follow these aims, and invite fellow nations on the Indian Ocean Rim to join this organisation founded for the good of all.

All nations with coastlines upon the Indian Ocean are invited to join the organisation - with a plan for an inaugural conference of member states within the next 18 months.

Present signatories:

• Republic of India [signed]
• Republic of Indonesia [signed]
• United Republic of Tanzania [signed]

Applicant States:

• Republic of Iraq
• Imperial State of Iran
• Republic of South Africa

[Coin]

I am delighted to sign on the Republic of Indonesia's behalf, and to be the first to put pen to paper on the matter. For millenia, the Indonesian people have sailed the high seas of the Indian Ocean - with the clear evidence, between language, trade, culture, and blood - plain to see. We therefore hope that this organisation may aid a peaceful culture of co-development among all signatory states, and those further afield also, free from the scourges of colonialism, exploitation, or conflict.

Adam Malik, Foreign Minister of Indonesia

[Serenissima]

On behalf of the département d’outre-mer of Réunion and the overseas community of Mayotte, integral parts of France situated in the Indian Ocean, the French Fifth Republic will join.

[Huojin]

Iraqi Republic

As a nation situated upon the Arabian Gulf, and with a lengthy history tied to the Indian Ocean region, the Iraqi Republic declares its hope and intention for membership in this organisation. Since long before the so-called "discovery" of the ocean by Western explorers, the nations and people of the Indian Ocean - from the Swahili Coast to the South China Sea - had engaged in trade and diplomacy and shared in prosperity peacefully for the better part of 700 years. That this was lost is a great shame, but one which we may lessen by the success of a new organisation to rebuild and strengthen ties once held.

[Hugo Strange]

I am proud and honored to sign on behalf of the Republic of India. The leader of the Indian independence movement Mahatma Gandhi once said: "You must be the change you wish to see in the world". As one of the founding members of the Indian Ocean Cooperation Organisation, we too hope that this organisation will bring unprecedented cooperation and friendship between all signatory states. Especially as emerging economies there is much value to be gained through cooperation, and we hope that within the framework of the Indian Ocean Cooperation Organisation we will all be able to achieve what none of us could accomplish by ourselves.


Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs of India

[Gesar]

Tanzania, a nation whose history has long been tied to the migrations of the Indian Ocean and is deeply concerned with the present state of affairs regarding the economic, historical, and environmental well-being, confirms that it will sign and join the organization. We also put forth the Republic of Indonesia as first Chair of the IOCO, and motion that the IOCO announce and hold a cultural exposition within the near future.

Finally, while we welcome partnership with France, we do wonder if the wording of the foundational text, emphasizing as it does indigenous cooperation, does not imply that a nation with a vast majority of their population quite literally half a world away would be better suited for an observer status.

[LordMoose]

The Republic of South Africa would happily join

[Huojin]

The Republic of South Africa would happily join

Iraqi Republic

As a nation without diplomatic relations with the Apartheid regime in South Africa due to their vile and abhorrent practices. The involvement of an unabashedly colonialist and oppressive regime in this organisation must be in complete opposition to its aims, and rejected wholeheartedly.

[Serenissima]

Tanzania, a nation whose history has long been tied to the migrations of the Indian Ocean and is deeply concerned with the present state of affairs regarding the economic, historical, and environmental well-being, confirms that it will sign and join the organization. We also put forth the Republic of Indonesia as first Chair of the IOCO, and motion that the IOCO announce and hold a cultural exposition within the near future.

Finally, while we welcome partnership with France, we do wonder if the wording of the foundational text, emphasizing as it does indigenous cooperation, does not imply that a nation with a vast majority of their population quite literally half a world away would be better suited for an observer status.

That the indiginous peoples of these islands have chosen French citizenship through legislation and referenda does not, surely, lessen their historical, cultural and ethnic ties to the Indian Ocean, nor our desire to co-operate for cultural exchange, commerce, trade and conservation. Nevertheless, we will accept the decision of the organisation on this matter.

[Gesar]

Tanzania welcomes French membership regardless of status, we merely desire clarification from our other founding members. We would advise the French delegate to not take offense where none is intended.

As regards South Africa, however, while we would prefer for the IOCO to remain apolitical, we must admit our discomfort at admitting a nation who would as soon see the population of its neighbors relegated to bantustans than stand with them in defense of the prosperity of the Indian Ocean.

[Azagal]

(A Representative to the United Nations for the Imperial State of Iran)


The Imperial State of Iran, while currently in possession of ports on the Indian Ocean, would wish to join this organization if it would allow a state such as ours to enter after the recent debacle regarding South Africa.

((I am awaiting denial but remaining positive))

[LordMoose]

While there is large opposition in South Africa joining this origination we here are staying positive and hope to be allowed in

[Coin]

The Republic of Indonesia is heartened by the interest in the IOCO from across the region.

While the membership policies of the organisation shall naturally be controversial no matter the result, our own position would be to welcome all nations upon the Indian Oceanic seaboard to membership, providing they subscribe to the founding charter. This is not an ideological union, nor indeed a racial one. Iran or Iraq, nor Australia or Somalia, should not worry - at least from the Jakartan perspective.

Nonetheless, colonial territories and apartheid South Africa present their own conundrums. Associate and observer status might be a solution, depending on a cooperative decision. While we are deeply troubled by South African policies, if South Africa were to indicate a desire to reform, through the foundation charter, encouraging such behaviour is no bad thing. It is certainly worthy of further discussion by member states, in Indonesia's opinion, and we encourage further applications, even as we must debate South Africa further.

Adam Malik, Foreign Minister of Indonesia

[Huojin]

Iraqi Republic

At our suggestion, the Indonesian delegation has amended slightly the phrasing of their suggestion, for which we are grateful. However in the interests of completeness, we will reiterate our position - namely, our concerns as to the use in any form of the phrasing "member" or "membership".

To suggest such ties where the goals of this organisation and the behaviour of nations who clash with those goals is, to the Iraqi Republic, an unacceptable position. To this end, we propose a separate "status" for such nations, where desirable, so that cooperation may be undertaken in a manner which does not compromise the admirable and important goals of the IOCO.

The establishment of Individual Cooperation Programmes (ICPs) on a nation-by-nation basis will allow for the creation of positive relations and the establishment of stability and security, while also maintaining a separate status and encouraging the forces of reform. Such a programme could be established on a unilateral basis by the decision of the IOCO member states.

[Coin]

Republic of Indonesia

With the foundation stone now in place, the Republic of Indonesia moves that a formal inaugural conference and exposition be organised for L1968 - as suggested by the United Republic of Tanzania. While Jakarta would normally be our first suggestion for a location, instead I would raise the possibility of the Republic of Mauritius - the youngest state in the Indian Ocean. This would further affirm our commitment to making the IOCO a means to encourage contact and commerce across all sides of the ocean - from the oldest nations to the youngest. I have not yet spoken with the representative of Mauritius, but hope they too would see the benefits of this.

Such an event would be a great showcase for dialogue and discussion from across the Indian Ocean region. I attach a list of states who would be contacted to attend; while leaving open the attendance of others, should they apply. States within the Red Sea and Persian Gulf have been left off this list in the main unless they have publicly commented; though their attendance would be welcomed by Indonesia if they desire it.

The issue of colonial representation is also one for debate - and one which I believe best left until the formal inauguration of the IOCO.

Spoiler

Show

IOCO Founder Members

• Republic of India
  Republic of Indonesia
  United Republic of Tanzania

Applicant Candidates

• Republic of Iraq
  Imperial State of Iran
  Republic of South Africa

African Invitees

• Ethiopian Empire
  Republic of Kenya
  Malagasy Republic
  Somali Republic

Arabian Peninsula Invitees

• Sultanate of Muscat and Oman
  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  People's Republic of Yemen

South Asian & Oceanic Invitees

• Commonwealth of Australia
  Union of Burma
  Dominion of Ceylon-
  Malaysia
  Sultanate of Maldives
  Republic of Mauritius
  Islamic Republic of Pakistan
  Kingdom of Thailand

Adam Malik, Foreign Minister of Indonesia