MENAFN
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
The
United States joined partners from over 40 countries, international
organizations, and the private sector in Djibouti, November 10--14, for
the 15 th Plenary of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of
Somalia.The plenary, chaired by the United States
and hosted by the Government of Djibouti, continued efforts by this
outstanding international partnership to safeguard commerce and
humanitarian aid deliveries along one of the world's busiest shipping
corridors. The Plenary also marked the passing of the Contact Group
chairmanship from the United States in 2013 to the European Union for
2014. Since its initial meeting in January 2009, the Contact Group has
nearly tripled in size while successful pirate attacks have declined to
zero so far this year. And thanks in part to the Contact Group's
concerted efforts, there has not been a successful pirate attack on a
commercial vessel off the Horn of Africa in more than 18 months. This
demonstrates the clear global consensus that has emerged against piracy,
as well as the recognition that concerted coordinated international
action was needed in response. Among its accomplishments to date, the
Contact Group has:
o Facilitated operational
coordination of an unprecedented international naval effort of more than
30 countries working together to protect transiting vessels. The United
States coordinates in these efforts with other multilateral coalitions
such as Combined Maritime Forces, NATO's Operation Ocean Shield, the
European Union's Operation ATALANTA, and independent deployers such as
China, India, Japan, and Russia.
* Partnered with
the shipping industry to improve practical steps merchant ships and
crews can take to avoid, deter, delay, and counter pirate attacks. The
shipping industry's use of Best Management Practices and the increasing
use of Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel are among these
measures, which continue to be the most effective deterrents against
pirate attacks.
* Strengthened the capacity of
Somalia and other countries in the region to counter piracy, in
particular by contributing to the UN Trust Fund Supporting Initiatives
of States Countering Piracy off the Coast of Somalia; and
*
Advanced new initiatives aimed at disrupting the pirates' networks
ashore through law enforcement approaches similar to those used to
target other types of organized transnational criminal networks.