YEMEN, EU REVIEW ANTI-PIRACY EFFORTS

SANA'A, Nov. 15 (Saba) - Transport Minister Khaled al-Wazir has talked with a delegation of the European Union (EU), currently visiting Yemen, on the steps required for the anti-piracy needs in the region of the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden.

Al-Wazir reviewed the procedures taken by Yemen to implement its duties toward the Code of Conduct of the states of the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.

The Minister also briefed the EU delegation on Yemen's preparations to carry out the Djibouti Code of Conduct and set up a regional center for coordination and exchange of information in Sana'a.

The aim of the center is to coordinate the anti-piracy efforts among the region states' coastguards to carry out joint tasks in the framework of combating piracy and ensuring sea security services.

In January 2009, a high-level meeting of 17 states from the Western Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea areas, was convened in Djibouti to help address the problem of piracy and armed robbery against ships off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.

The meeting adopted a Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden (the Code of Conduct).

The meeting was attended by Ministers, Ambassadors, senior officials and legal experts from Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania and Yemen, as well as observers from other IMO Member States; United Nations specialized agencies and bodies; and international and regional inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations.

The Code of Conduct recognizes the extent of the problem of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the region and, in it, the signatories declare their intention to cooperate to the fullest possible extent, and in a manner consistent with international law, in the repression of piracy and armed robbery against ships, with a view towards sharing and reporting relevant information through a system of national focal points and information centres; interdicting ships suspected of engaging in acts of piracy or armed robbery against ships; ensuring that persons committing or attempting to commit acts of piracy or armed robbery against ships are apprehended and prosecuted; and facilitating proper care, treatment, and repatriation for seafarers, fishermen, other shipboard personnel and passengers subject to acts of piracy or armed robbery against ships, particularly those who have been subjected to violence.

The Code of Conduct also covers the possibilities of shared operations, such as nominating law enforcement or other authorized officials to embark in the patrol ships or aircraft of another signatory.

The Code of Conduct further calls for the setting up of national focal points for piracy and armed robbery against ships and the sharing of information relating to incidents reported.

The signatories intend to use piracy information exchange centres in Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania and Yemen, to be located, respectively, in the regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Mombasa, the Sub-Regional Coordination Centre in Dar Salaam, and a regional maritime information centre, which is being established in Sana'a.

The meeting also recommended the establishment of a regional training centre within the purposes of the Code of Conduct and, by means of a resolution, accepted with appreciation the offer of Djibouti to host it.

The Code of Conduct is open for signature by the 21 countries in the region, of which nine - namely, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Seychelles, Somalia, United Republic of Tanzania and Yemen - signed it during the closing ceremony in Djibouti. As a result, the Code of Conduct is effective as from 29 January 2009.

The Djibouti meeting follows from earlier regional meetings, also convened by IMO, including the Subregional seminar on piracy and armed robbery against ships and maritime security held in Sana'a, Yemen, in April 2005; the follow up Subregional workshop on maritime security, piracy and armed robbery against ships held in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, in January 2006; and the Subregional meeting on piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Western Indian Ocean, held in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, in April 2008.

FJ/YA