Days before India visit, Seychelles President pulls out of naval project with India

ByAmitabh Pashupati Revi

The Indian naval facility on the Seychellois Island of Assumption will not go ahead as of now as the ruling party does not have the numbers in the parliament to put the deal through for ratification, said the island nation's
President Danny Faure to WION in an exclusive interview.

Ahead of his first state visit to New Delhi, the President, however, said that the coast guard facility was crucial for Seychelles. He also appreciated the Modi government for not trying to influence the domestic politics over the issue.

''India is a Democracy while ours is an evolving democracy and we are building institutions I am as president. I am the head of the executive but I do not have a majority in our parliament,'' Faure said.

However, he said, it's important to have a coast guard facility on Assumption. ''We will build the facility on our own as it's important to have a facility,'' he said.

When asked why there is opposition to the project, he said that environmental concern is an issue as Assumption is not far from Aldabra which is a UNESCO world heritage and therefore there were concerns but the idea of having a small coast guard facility to protect the islands is part of our strategy, he said.