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UAE calls for ‘unconditional’ release of hostages Muaz Shabandri / 13 September 2013 A senior official from the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on the international community to exert greater efforts in securing the release of fishermen and sailors held as captives by Somali pirates. “Until now, some fishermen and sailors are in custody of the pirates and we would like to send a message to release them unconditionally,” said Faris Al Mazroui, Assistant to the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs on Military and Security Affairs. Mohammed Sharaf and Faris Al Mazrouie of the UAE addressing the Press at the Countering Maritime Piracy conference at Dubai on Thursday. — KT photos by Shihab His comments came at the close of a high-level two-day conference on anti-maritime piracy hosted in Dubai. More than 750 delegates and 20 foreign ministers were in attendance as they exchanged ideas on improving international co-ordination to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia. Recommendations > Call to review the High Risk Area by removing Red Sea from its scope and reverting to 65 degree East Longitude in the Arabian Sea. > Need to focus on maritime piracy and warn that any easing of security efforts at sea and capacity building on shore will likely see a resurgence of pirate attacks. Recent decline in pirate attacks is both fragile and reversible. > Public and private sector participants call international community’s attention to on-going grave humanitarian situation of seafarers still held in captivity in Somalia. > Progress made in implementing common standards for private security personnel on board merchant vessels is to be commended. Call to implement best management practices to protect crew, their assets and their customers’ cargo. > Enhancing regional capacity is crucial to ensure long-term sustainable response to piracy by allowing countries to control their own shores and patrol their own waters. > Main efforts for capacity building are to take place in Somalia, on land and on the coast. > Reiteration of support to federal government of Somalia to establish robust governance, working institutions and effective legal and security framework. > Timely disbursements of financial pledges will ensure much needed assistance of government of Somalia’s plans He added: “The international community has succeeded on many fronts as participants confirmed piracy attacks have reduced. We have to maintain this success and exert more efforts to help improve the security situation.” His views were supported by Mohammed Sharaf, Group Chief Executive Officer of DP World as he said: “While the gains are welcome, these may be reversible. It is our duty to keep the spotlight on captives and help economies suffering from piracy. We also need to highlight the need for long-term commitment.” The conference was opened by Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister, with the President of Somalia, Hassan Shaikh Mohamud giving the keynote address. Other Government speakers at the conference included senior Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Yemen, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Mozambique, the Philippines, the Seychelles, and the Comoros, alongside a number of Ministers from European countries. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, DP World and Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) jointly hosted the forum. – muaz@khaleejtimes.com Indian govt voices concern on ‘private security’ near coastline The increasing number of private security staff on-board commercial vessels is not going down well with Indian authorities. A senior Indian government official voiced concerns on the presence of private armed personnel on vessels near the Indian coast, as the issue was raised at the anti-maritime piracy conference in Dubai. Dr T Kumar, Additional Secretary & Financial Adviser, Ministry of Shipping, Government of India said: “We are concerned at the continued and increasing presence of privately contracted armed security personnel on commercial vessels moving close to the Indian Coast. We have consistently called for voluntary reporting of such information to our Maritime Response Coordination Centres.” Heading the Indian delegation at the forum, she also noted several false alarms had been raised in the recent past, causing wastage of Indian navies resources. “We firmly believe that due to the fact that no successful incident of piracy has taken place east of 65° for almost two years, the high risk area needs to be revised, as it unfairly harms our interest and leads to a waste of our naval resources who are responding to many false alarms due to the heightened alert,” she said. Indians constitute seven per cent of the world’s seafarers and more than 340 seafarers have been held captive at different points of time. Dr Kumar added: “Clearly, Indian seafarers have faced the major brunt of the piracy menace and as I speak today, eight Indian seafarers are still being held hostage by Somali pirates with one more listed as missing. We continue all efforts to have them freed expeditiously.” muaz@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading →