Yemen, EU discuss procedures for opening regional anti-piracy center
The Source: SANA'A/hadhramaut.infor/sabanews.net - 25/09/2010
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Yemen and European Union (EU) discussed on Saturday final procedures for opening a regional center in Sana'a to coordinate and share information to combat sea piracy in the western Indian Ocean area and the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somali This came during a meeting gathered Minister of Transport Khaled al-Wazir and the international expert on security policy and maritime safety at the European Union (EU), Admiral Hubert de Gaullier, and Director of program to achieve stability at the European Commission in Sana'a.The two sides agreed on procedures for receiving modern technical equipments of the center, which its procedures are being completed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). They identified the beginning of the next year as the date for opening the center, and next December for arrival of the equipments required for running the center.Talks in the meeting dealt with arrangements for convening the regional meeting of member States of Djibouti Code of Conduct, to be held in Sana'a during November 6-8, 2010, to discuss the approval of the regional center's administrative system and the mechanism of cooperation between the regional center and the national centers in 11 member states, which include Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan, Kenya, Egypt, Somalia, Tanzania, and Jordan.Al-Wazir confirmed Yemen's keenness to find urgent and effective solutions for the maritime piracy problem in cooperation with the region countries and the IMO and the international community. He reviewed steps and procedures taken for implementing Yemen's obligations in the Code of Conduct.He commended the support of the EU and the IMO to the regional center, stressing the importance of supporting the Coastguard and Navy of Yemen so as to enable them to combat the sea piracy that has increased in unprecedented way.The EU's officials expressed their satisfaction with the rapid actions taken by the government, represented by the Ministry of Transport, regarding the completion of the regional center to strengthen regional and international cooperation to combat acts of piracy and protect the international shipping lines.
They confirmed the readiness of the EU to continue to provide the technical support for the center to perform its tasks optimally, noting the importance of coordinating efforts to reduce the phenomenon of piracy.
They pointed out that the EU would assist Yemen's efforts in this regard in coordination with the IMO.
In recent years, Somali pirates have stepped up their attacks against merchant vessels off Somalia, threatening one of the world's busiest waterways in the region.
2008 witnessed the large number of recorded attacks that reached more than 140 incidents, out of which 42 hijackings.In 2009, about 46 hijackings were registered along with 210 attempted pirate attacks, while 2007 was the year of less pirate attacks and attempted hijackings, with only 20 incidents registered.The surge drew the world's attention with countries topped by the U.S., the European Union, Russia, China, Japan and others whose ships pass in the region dispatching anti-pirate missions into the region.Many pirates were arrested and handed to Yemen. Some of those handed went on trial in Yemen, getting sentences after confessing to hijacking and attempted pirate attacks.
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