MEASURES TO ELIMINATE ROOT CAUSES OF PIRACY SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- The two-day International Conference on Piracy and Crimes at Sea which ended here Tuesday, noted several important views that included ensuring a lasting solution to piracy and armed robbery against ships off the coast of Somalia by eliminating their root causes.

In a five-page Chairman's Statement issued here, the participating countries
outlined measures such as empowering the authorities and Somali people and
enhancing the socio-economic fabric of Somalia, a war-torn country which is
without a functioning central government since 1991.

In the statement, they also noted the view that efforts were being made to
to assess the international legal framework to ensure its effectiveness in
addressing piracy and armed robbery against ships.

Another view was that the United Nations be invited to consider further the
possibility of taking joint measures through the Contact Group on Piracy off the
coast of Somalia and its Working Groups to coordinate maritime force operations
to suppress piracy and armed robbery against ships in that area.

The Malaysian government will transmit the Chairman's Statement to the
United Nations, International Maritime Organisation and other international
organisations.


The KL conference was organised by Malaysia's Foreign Ministry and attended
by experts from governments, inter-governmental organisations, shipping and
insurance industries, and diplomats and academics.

The objective was to update and analyse the situation concerning piracy and
armed robbery against ships off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden,
among others, through understanding of the relevant issues, including national
and international legal frameworks.

The conference noted the view that continuous efforts were being undertaken
to enhance cooperation among states, in particular, consultations among the
littoral states in addressing the menace off the coast of Somalia, in finding a
lasting solution to the problem.

Another view noted was that the primary responsibility with regard to piracy
and armed robbery against ships remained with the littoral states and therefore,
international efforts towards assisting these states to build their capacities
to handle the problem were of utmost importance.

Also noted was that further efforts to increase cooperation among states and
other stakeholders in tackling the problem should be welcomed, while respecting
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of littoral states.

The delegates also noted the view that there were lessons to be learned
from
other regions, particularly the mechanisms established by the littoral states of
the Straits of Malacca (Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia), which successfully
reduced the incidents of armed robbery against ships in the area, where
assistance from non-littoral states was limited to capacity-building efforts.

It was noted too that the safety and security of maritime routes were vital
to the world economy and that more than two-thirds of world trade were carried
out by international shipping.

About 20,000 ships and boats use the waters off the coast of Somalia and the
Gulf of Aden annually. In 2008 alone, pirates attacked 42 vessels.

The director-general of the Foreign Ministry's Research, Treaties and
International Law Department, Noor Farida Ariffin said the views noted
were expressed during the conference and did not bind anybody.

-- BERNAMA