Region moves on piracy

RIYADH, Oct. 26 (Saba) - A regional anti-piracy taskforce is
yet to take shape after the Arabian Gulf States and those countries overlooking the
Red
Sea have started steps for the crucial mission.
During the second meeting of Foreign Ministry experts and navy officials in the
countries recently held in Saudi Arabia, the countries entrusted a working team of
their
naval leaderships with setting out all details about the ambitious project.
The idea was first approved in a Riyadh June meeting that gathered Foreign Ministry
experts and navy officials in the countries.
In the meeting, Yemen presented a work paper dealing with Yemen's view over changes
in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa and challenges presented by piracy off
Somalia
which has triggered fears of the whole world.
The paper also highlighted other crimes such as drugs and human trafficking as well
as illegal migration.
Yemen has earlier called for an Arab mission to protect the Red Sea security and
combat all forms of organized crimes in the region.
In the meeting, Yemen called for establishing an effective mechanism including
coordination between the yet-to-be Anti-Piracy Mission and the Yemeni authorities
to share
information through a Regional Anti-Pirate Center to be built in it.
In recent years, piracy has soared off Somalia, the African state without a central
government since 1990.
The region saw more attacks last year with the vessels reported hijacked passing
140. And this year many attacks took place, with the phenomenon being lucrative as
the pirates
usually demand ransoms for what they seize.
In response to piracy, an international anti-pirate mission was dispatched into the
region including troops and equipment from the EU, the U.S., Russia, China, Japan
and
other countries.
Many pirate attacks have been foiled by the mission, with some pirates seized given
to Yemen to stand trial.
FR