Lanka in talks to curb Somali piracy
The war against Somali piracy must be fought on two fronts: battling
the country's pirates and feeding its people. That was the view of
envoys from seven countries whose citizens have been held by Somali
pirates.
The diplomats from Italy, the Seychelles, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kenya,
Tanzania and Thailand were in Abu Dhabi to discuss ways to end
piracy.They broadly agreed that the keys were military action, restoring
law and order, and increasing aid.
"Yes, we must get rid of the bases of pirates to avoid attacks, but
the international community cannot rely only on a military option," said
the Italian Ambassador to the UAE, Giorgio Starace.
"There must be economic and social change linked to Somalia's
recovery. Aid is not only for times of emergency. We need more
engagement," he said.
Somali pirates cost governments and the shipping industry up to
US$6.9 billion (Dh25.35 billion) last year, the advocacy group One Earth
Future Foundation says.The diplomats mapped out a range of measures to
cooperate against piracy.
Pirate attacks and ransom demands are common off Somalia's coast
because of its proximity to the Gulf of Aden, a shipping route through
which 20 percent of world trade passes.
This week, the European Union Naval Force conducted its first
operation to destroy pirate equipment on the Somali coast, with the
support of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. Until
Tuesday, such operations were restricted to the waters off Somalia.
During the conference in Abu Dhabi, the ambassadors said tracing the
money trail to find out where ransom funds were channelled was
imperative.
"Somali pirates have become a destructive force because they have a
safe haven," said Kenyan Ambassador, Mohamed Gello. "They can attack
ships and take these back toward the shore because the land is available
to them.
The National, UAE |