http://www.english.hadhramaut.info Countries overlooking Red Sea to hold piracy meeting [The Source: www.sabanews.net - 19/11/2008] At the Consultative Meeting of the countries overlooking the Red Sea to begin on November 20 in Cairo, Yemen will put forward proposals on the main topics of the meeting including the security,  legal and economic dimensions of the piracy phenomenon, deputy Foreign minister said. Upon departure at the head of a Yemeni delegation for the meeting, deputy Foreign minister for Arab and African Affairs Ali Muhammad al-Ayashi said the meeting will tackle the issue of piracy and armed attacks on merchant vessels and shipments off Somalia's coast and in international waters in the Indian ocean and the Gulf of Aden. Egypt called the meeting amid efforts initially launched by Yemen and other regional states to have a common position by the countries overlooking the Red Sea to prevent the spread of the piracy to the Red Sea, al-Ayashi said. He made clear that the meeting is expected to affirm that protection of the sea is the responsibility of the countries overlooking it. " We, the participants, will be careful to rally Arab efforts to bring in the Muscat and Dar Es Salaam meetings' proposals which were produced under the sponsorship of the International Maritime Organization in an effort to finalize a memorandum of understanding for fighting piracy which would be the regional suitable framework of cooperation." Al-Ayashi said. The meeting will raise the issue of establishing the regional center for sharing information on piracy events in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden that would be established in Yemen. Piracy has recently surged off Somalia's coast and near the Gulf of Aden threatening one of the world's most important waterways linking Asia and Europe. More than 30 vessels have been Hijacked this year, the latest of which was a Saudi oil vessel carrying 2 million barrels of oil which was seized two days ago. The pirates, usually Somali ones, demand ransoms and sometimes they realize their goal. Recently many world countries responded to the soaring phenomenon by sending navy ships to conduct piracy patrols in the area. Regional countries expressed concern over the multinational military presence in the area and are seeking regional measures that as they say will not harm the national security.