India is to gift Seychelles a state-of-the-art Dornier 228 surveillance aircraft, according to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on Friday.

The agreement was signed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Paul Adam and Indian high commissioner Thanglura Darlong in the presence of Indian military officers who are already operating another Dornier to assist the Seychelles Coastguards patrol the country’s vast territorial waters.

The new Dornier will have a range of 700 nautical miles and will be delivered later this year, bringing the number of planes to the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) airwing to three.

Minister Adam said this is another further step in the enhancement of good neighbourly relations between Seychelles and India.

He said the fact that the Indian military is already flying a Dornier on behalf of the Seychelles Coastguards to patrol the vast expanse of ocean which unites our two countries, is an example of the trust we have in one another.

He said the gift of the new Dornier is India’s response for international assistance in Seychelles’ fight against piracy.

Mr Adam said this will bolster Seychelles’ capability to secure our maritime zones and contribute to greater security in the region.

Mr Darlong  said the MoU for the new Dornier aircraft marks another milestone within the framework of cooperation between Seychelles and India  to safeguard our ocean borders.

He said our two nations have regular contact by sea and air and adequate surveillance  means protecting our marine resources for future generations.

The Indian head of diplomatic mission said he was sure the gift will serve a very useful purpose and contribute immensely to Seychelles’ development.

Forrás: www.nation.sc