S/PV.6221 Security Council

In accordance with the understanding reached in the Council’s prior consultations, I shall take it that the Security Council agrees to extend an invitation under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, Special Representative of the Secretary- General and head of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia. It is so decided. I invite Mr. Ould Abdallah to take a seat at the Council table. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them document S/2009/590, which contains the report of the Secretary-General pursuant to Security Council resolution 1846 (2008). At this meeting, the Security Council will hear a briefing by Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah. I now give him the floor. Mr. Ould Abdallah: I should like to start by thanking the Council for its continued interest in and attention to the situation in Somalia, and specifically to the issue of piracy there. I should like to make it clear from the beginning that piracy is, first and foremost, a very successful business with outlets in the region and beyond. It is therefore very important that we see it as it is — a criminal activity. Following the adoption of resolution 1846 (2008), we have been working with a number of organizations within the United Nations system, our colleagues in Vienna and here at Headquarters, and other United Nations entities, including the World Food Programme and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to follow up events in Somalia. The deployment of naval ships and military aircraft to suppress piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia, as well as better self-protection of ships transiting the area, have considerably reduced the number of successful incidents in the region, especially in the Gulf of Aden. This expanding maritime presence is playing a critical role in stabilizing the situation at sea, and there is no doubt that the number of successful attacks would increase again if these military assets were reduced. The naval escorts protecting World Food Programme shipments are providing crucial protection for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Somalia. At the same time, the number of pirate attacks has in no way diminished; the threat remains and, in some ways, is becoming more entrenched as more sophisticated methods are being adopted and attacks are taking place further out at sea. However, this is a further financial cost to the pirates and their criminal business — a risk they are nevertheless still ready to take because they see it as worthwhile. We have to recognize that the international maritime presence has dealt a serious blow to the financial profitability of this criminal activity. Therefore the approach to combating piracy cannot be limited to the containment of the problem by international naval forces alone, no matter how successful — and I do consider it to be successful. This fight must be part of an overall plan which includes building regional capacity, on the one hand, and dealing with the root causes, on the other. In addition to various bilateral initiatives being undertaken by Member States, regional capacity- building is also being carried out through the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized United Nations agency steering the implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct aims to establish a cooperation framework among regional States combating piracy at both the operational and the legal levels. This covers interdicting ships suspected of piracy, information- sharing among regional States, and the prosecution of suspected pirates. Piracy’s root causes are being addressed by my Office and my colleagues in the United Nations system, whose joint action focuses on establishing sustainable peace, effective governance, creating capable rule of law and security institutions, and — as far as possible — offering the Somali people lawful alternatives to piracy and banditry. I would like to address these issues in more detail. The report before the Council (S/2009/590) highlights the role played by IMO in promulgating guidance for Governments, seafarers and the global maritime industry in suppressing piracy and armed robbery against ships, and in developing and implementing a regional strategy for the western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. This is the essence of the Djibouti Code of Conduct, which has been signed by 10 States of the region. IMO and its member States have long recognized that piracy is a symptom of the lack of effective Government and the rule of law ashore. With this aspect in mind, IMO has been working actively, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna and other United Nations bodies, INTERPOL and navies, to develop regional States’ capacities to enforce the law at sea and, in particular, to counter piracy and armed robbery against ships in waters off the coast of Somalia. On the prosecution of suspected pirates caught by the international naval forces operating off the coast of Somalia, UNODC has been providing assistance to regional States. Although all agencies agree that the ideal solution to the trial of pirates is a fair and effective court system in Somalia, that goal is still out of reach. Therefore, UNODC and the Office of Legal Affairs here at Headquarters are leading on the best alternative: ensuring trial within a sound legal framework in other regional States. Through the delivery of support directly to the police, prosecutors, courts and prisons of Kenya and Seychelles, UNODC is creating the conditions in which the arresting States are content to pass suspects over for trial and improving overall criminal justice and standards. The programme is being expanded to other regional States through the conduct of legal assessments and the delivery of assistance and, in partnership with UNDP, will develop the prisons — and later the prosecutors and police investigators — in some entities within Somalia, such as Somaliland and Puntland, to create the conditions in which pirates convicted outside Somalia can be returned home to serve their prison sentences. The United Nations plans to implement high-impact interventions, primarily in Puntland. Civilian policing performance and infrastructure — especially communications — in the strategic corridor from Bossaso to Galkayo through Qardho and Garowe will be and should be strengthened. After that, by the middle of next year, Puntland authorities should roll out police services to the rural and coastal areas. In addition to the United Nations working closely to contain and combat the root causes of piracy, the United Nations has been closely working with INTERPOL, whose law enforcement strategy to combat maritime piracy is threefold: to increase intelligence-sharing, build regional police capacity and cooperate with other international and regional organizations. The goal is to support efforts to identify, arrest and prosecute pirates, trace and seize ransom monies and disrupt criminal networks. The first priority has been promoting information-sharing with all police and non-police organizations, including the United Nations and naval and shipping industry partners. The INTERPOL I-24/7 global secure communications network is designed to facilitate this type of collaboration, and INTERPOL is helping to expand access to I-24/7 in the region. INTERPOL is also working with a number of Governments, including the United States and the United Kingdom, on maritime piracy financial investigations, and will host a maritime piracy conference early next year. I would like also to welcome the proposal made by the regional body, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), to establish a blockade of known ports that are supporting piracy. I believe that that measure should send a clear message to the criminals behind the small ports — because some port facilities are in fact small and harmless — that they cannot keep defying the law and getting away with it. In conclusion, I would like to stress that any long-term effort to address lawlessness at sea must be complementary to the current political, security, recovery and development efforts already being undertaken by the United Nations and the African Union Mission in Somalia. In this regard I welcome the intention of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia to coordinate its initiatives with the International Contact Group on Somalia. Piracy is a symptom of wider problems ashore in Somalia. The only sustainable solution will be effective governance, the establishment of the rule of law and security institutions and the creation of alternative livelihoods in Somalia for stable and inclusive economic growth. In the present Government we have a credible and legitimate partner with whom to work to achieve this. It needs more assistance to do so.

I thank Mr. Ould Abdallah for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to members of the Security Council who wish to make statements. Sir Mark Lyall Grant (United Kingdom): I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ould Abdallah, for his realistic briefing and for introducing the report of the Secretary- General pursuant to Security Council resolution 1846 (2008) (S/2009/590). The United Kingdom expresses its appreciation of the contribution of the United Nations and its agencies to this effort, including the Special Representative and his team. The United Kingdom also welcomes the achievements of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia in coordinating the efforts of the international community to address piracy in the region and the constructive contribution being made to these efforts by the Transitional Federal Government and the regional authorities of Somalia. We are pleased to lead work in the Contact Group on operational coordination and regional capacity development. The level of coordination being achieved in the region by naval forces from a wide range of States is unprecedented and impressive. Close cooperation among these forces, in particular the establishment of patrolling of the internationally recommended transit corridor in the Gulf of Aden, has managed to ensure that only one ship following that route and adhering to agreed best practice has been hijacked in the Gulf since December 2008. The statistics in the Secretary- General’s report on the protection of World Food Programme aid and the supplies of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) underline the successful role of the military operations in safeguarding essential shipping. But we cannot underestimate the significant challenge that we face. Even though the proportion of successful attacks continues to fall, the overall number of pirate attacks continues to increase, and 11 ships and 254 crew members are currently hijacked. Pirates are now willing to venture further out to sea in search of targets, and to counter that, we need a different type of military response, led by intelligence. The military commanders know what they need in terms of military capability, and the international community must help to deliver it. But one message from the military commanders remains consistent. They are shocked by the lack of adherence by sectors of the merchant shipping community to the guidance that is given by the International Maritime Organization and industry bodies. Estimates suggest that a quarter of merchant shipping fails to follow this guidance. That failure makes them much easier targets. We have joined other major flag States in signing the New York Declaration on Best Management Practices to Avoid, Deter or Delay Acts of Piracy, and we are pressing all United Kingdom ships to adopt those practices when in the region. We urge all flag States to do the same. The release of the Spanish fishing boat Alacrana earlier this week is obviously a welcome development, and we hope that all other hostages will soon be free, including British nationals Paul and Rachel Chandler, who were seized from their yacht on 23 October. We pay tribute to Kenya for its leadership within the region in taking forward the detention and prosecution of pirates. The United Kingdom also welcomes the agreement by the Republic of Seychelles to accept pirate suspects for trial and detention. We stand ready with other partners to provide assistance to signatories of the Djibouti Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden who have undertaken to enact national legislation to enable the prosecution of pirates. We strongly support the work being taken forward by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to help the Transitional Federal Government and regional authorities of Puntland and Somaliland to deal with suspects within Somalia. The Secretary-General’s report clearly highlights the need to address the situation on land in Somalia. The Contact Group decided on a number of measures at the meeting of its working group in London this week. Donors now need to commit themselves to providing financial and technical support to Somalia and to States throughout the region, including work on governance, rule of law, justice, alternative livelihoods and strategic communications. The implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct remains at the heart of regional capability development, transforming regional political will into action. Piracy is only one of the symptoms of instability in Somalia, and, as the Special Representative has said, we must also address the root causes of that instability. I pay tribute to the efforts led by the Special Representative to support the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia in developing effective political and security structures. I should like to thank AMISOM, and in particular Uganda and Burundi, its two troop-contributing countries, for their outstanding efforts to support the Government against insurgents. I hope that others will join them to bring the Mission up to full strength. The international community has shown unity and resolve in taking action to contain the threat of piracy, but we now need to show more of the same determination and unity on shore if we are to address its roots and causes.

I, too, should like to thank Special Representative Ould Abdallah for his comments and for his efforts, and those of the staff of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia, on behalf of the Somali people. I should also like to welcome to the Council today the Permanent Representative of Somalia, Ambassador Duale. The scourge of piracy off the coast of Somalia affects us all through increased risk to our citizens, the disruption of global commercial shipping routes and damage to property and goods. This problem shows no sign of abating. As the report of the Secretary-General (S/2009/590) notes, there were 160 instances of piracy in the East Africa area from 1 January to 30 September of this year, up from 136 during the same period last year. Many of these attacks are now shifting from the Gulf of Aden to the western Indian Ocean in response to successful naval operations in the Gulf. The deep concern of the international community over this issue has resulted in extraordinary counter- piracy cooperation off the coast of Somalia. Dozens of States and international organizations are working together to suppress piracy and protect vulnerable ships transiting Somali waters or seeking to deliver badly needed humanitarian aid to Somalia’s shores. In particular, the United States commends the efforts of the European Union’s Operation Atalanta, of NATO’s Operation Allied Protector and Operation Ocean Shield, and of the Combined Maritime Force’s Task Force 151. We also commend the role played by individual States in these important efforts. The Shared Awareness and Deconfliction initiative has allowed for excellent operational and tactical coordination, and we thank all partners for their participation. The Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia has also made significant contributions to the global effort to suppress piracy, and we greatly appreciate the role that the United Nations has played here. In cooperation with the Contact Group, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes and the United Nations Office of the Legal Adviser have worked to enhance the judicial capacity of States in the region. We are also grateful to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for its work to coordinate and implement the Djibouti Code of Conduct. In this regard, we should like to acknowledge Japan’s generous donation to the IMO’s international trust fund. The United States believes that the international community must continue and intensify efforts to combat piracy. We should like to raise five issues today that we think are important in this regard. First, renewing the authority of Security Council resolutions 1846 (2008) and 1851(2008) is essential. These authorities provide a basis for ongoing counter- piracy military operations and allow Member States to prevent pirates from using Somalia’s territorial waters, land and air as safe havens to evade forces in the area. Secondly, we must continue to share information and best practices. On 10 September, the United States, along with several other flag States, signed the New York Declaration, a political commitment to ensure that vessels operating under the signatory flags implement internationally recognized best management practices for self-protection. These best practices include guidance from the International Maritime Organization, the maritime industry and flag States. We encourage other States to sign the New York Declaration and require vessels to implement self- protection measures. Thirdly, we are concerned that ransom payments have contributed to the recent increases in piracy, and encourage all States to adopt a firm no-concessions policy when dealing with hostage-takers, including pirates. Fourthly, the United States believes that affected States should give favourable consideration to prosecuting suspected pirates. We encourage States to enact domestic legislation to enable the prosecution of piracy as a crime in their national courts. We also urge support for regional States to enhance their capacities to prosecute and incarcerate pirates, and we encourage States to utilize the Contact Group’s multi-donor trust fund. And we should especially like to commend States, in particular Kenya, that have taken the lead in prosecution. Finally, the United States believes that a focus on Somalia’s economic development, political stability and humanitarian needs is critical. Piracy is closely linked to instability, weak governance and rule of law, and a lack of opportunity on land. We strongly support efforts to assist the Transitional Federal Government in developing its institutions, including its security sector, and to boost Somalia’s economy and create viable livelihoods. We also applaud the forces of the African Union Mission in Somalia that are helping to stabilize Somalia and the role of the United Nations in supporting the Somali people. We are encouraged that Somalia is taking further initiatives to address piracy, including plans to reactivate the coast guard to help patrol Somalia’s waters. The United States remains committed to working with the Transitional Federal Government and the international community to combat piracy. We laud the excellent cooperation to date and look forward to seeing it continue.

I thank Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah for introducing the report of the Secretary-General (S/2009/590) on piracy in the context of our consideration of the situation in Somalia. Having examined the report and paid close attention to the additional information that has just been presented to us, we should like to make some observations. Due to their frequency and modus operandi, the activities of the maritime militias off the coast of Somalia remain a source of extreme concern, making the search for a comprehensive and viable solution to the tragedy in Somalia even more difficult. The statistics given in the report are eloquent and only confirm the gravity of the problem. Of the 300 attacks that took place around the world between 1 January and 30 September, 160 occurred in the region off the coast of East Africa. This also shows the determination of the pirates in the face of the reaction of the international forces in the Indian Ocean. Despite their limited capacities and the consequences of the civil war that has raged in the country for more than a decade, the Somali authorities, especially those of Puntland, have launched a number of initiatives to combat piracy and prosecute those responsible. We welcome these efforts, which led to the arrest and detention of more than 100 suspects in Bossaso, and we urge the Somali authorities not to let down their guard and to continue their fight against this criminal enterprise. We also warmly welcome the mobilization of the international community in response to this scourge, and we praise the efforts made by States and international and regional organizations in this area. The role of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development deserves particular notice. We also welcome the establishment of a Contact Group and the implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. While we may believe that the considerable reduction in the number of successful attacks, as stressed in the report, is the result of dynamic international cooperation, it is important nevertheless to bear in mind that the legal cooperation regime currently in place is an exception and should not be considered as replacing or modifying the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which remains the sole legal instrument relevant to counter-piracy activities. However, we hope that the momentum of this international solidarity can go beyond mobilizing against piracy alone, and would like to see it manifest in other areas of concern to the population of Somalia, since it is clear that the proliferation of acts of piracy is directly related to the overall situation facing Somalia today. That is clear from the reports of the Secretary- General and of the Monitoring Group on sanctions, which establish, inter alia, a very clear causal link between piracy and the violation of the arms embargo in Somalia. There is therefore no doubt that it was the meltdown of the internal situation in Somalia that gave birth to the maritime militias, which in turn have become an aggravating factor due precisely to the complicity between the pirates and the armed groups active in Somalia. In that context, cooperation between civil and military actors in the fight against piracy must be broadened so that direct bilateral and multilateral assistance can be offered to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Some countries are already taking steps in that area and their example is worth following. With that direct assistance, the Somali Government will be able to consolidate its police force and security services, exercise better control over its land and sea territories and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Such assistance should work in tandem with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the only international presence on the ground and whose preponderant role has been demonstrated, but which sorely lacks the financial and logistical resources to carry out effectively its mandate and guarantee the implementation of the Djibouti Agreement. We welcome efforts by the Secretariat to support AMISOM pursuant to resolutions 1863 (2009) and 1872 (2009), notably through its support for the African force. We also support the Secretary-General’s appeal for a more substantive assistance to AMISOM so that it can continue to provide support to the Transitional Federal Government in the maintenance of peace and security. The new dynamic created by several political parties participating in the Transitional Federal Government and establishing themselves now, in fact, in Mogadishu, is certainly something to be welcomed, but we have to act quickly to ensure that it does not crumble, which would plunge the country once again into chaos. In conclusion, we would like to thank Mr. Ould Abdallah, Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Somalia, for his ongoing efforts on behalf of and commitment to the people and the authorities of Somalia.

I would like to begin by thanking Mr. Ould Abdallah, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia for his briefing and introduction of the report of the Secretary-General, as contained in document S/2009/590. I also welcome the participation of His Excellency, Ambassador Duale of Somalia in the Council’s meeting today. Viet Nam remains deeply concerned about piracy off the coast of Somalia. There has been no significant change in the number of incidents along the East African coastline, and more dangerously, there has been a recent surge of alleged attempts and attacks in the Western Indian Ocean, in which more sophisticated methods and techniques have been employed. Against this backdrop, enhanced coordination among the international stakeholders, regional organizations and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) is crucial so as to prevent and suppress piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia. We find it encouraging that Member States operating in the territorial waters and high seas off the coast of Somalia have developed complex and comprehensive military naval operations and the necessary coordination mechanisms. We believe the Contact Group for Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia with its four supporting working groups is an effective international cooperation mechanism and a common point of contact between and among States, regional and international organizations on all aspects of the fight against piracy. Recent coordination efforts between the Contact Group and the International Contact Group on Somalia have produced tangible results. Such coordination should be encouraged and enhanced. At the regional level, we welcome the adoption of the Djibouti Code of Conduct on the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, and we are convinced that full implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct will enable States in the region to develop appropriate regulatory and legislative frameworks to combat piracy, enhance their capacity to patrol the waters of the region, intercept suspected vessels and prosecute suspected pirates. We welcome, in this connection, the establishment of the International Trust Fund Supporting Initiatives of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia and the International Maritime Organization Djibouti Code trust fund. Anti-piracy activities by the TFG continue to face numerous challenges, most notable of which is a lack of the capacity to thwart, curb or investigate piracy in areas under the control of the Government. We call upon the international community and regional organizations to provide technical and financial assistance to Somalia, at the request of the TFG and with notification to the Secretary-General, so as to strengthen its security institutions and its capacity to address lawlessness at sea and bring to justice, in compliance with the international law and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, those who are using Somali territory to plan, facilitate or undertake criminal acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea. We commend the efforts of the European Union Naval Force Operation Atalanta and States, acting in their national capacities, in cooperation with the TFG and each other, to suppress piracy and to protect vulnerable ships transiting through the waters off the coast of Somalia, including those transporting humanitarian supplies to Somalia and United Nations supplies to AMISOM. We commend the significant efforts undertaken by the Government of Kenya to prosecute suspected pirates captured by the international community in its national courts. We also urge all States, especially those directly harmed by piracy, to provide the Kenyan Government with the logistical and financial support to address the challenges of prosecuting suspected pirates. Finally, we thank the United States delegation for having prepared the draft resolution on piracy. My delegation will continue to constructively engage in the efforts to achieve consensus on this important document.

I would also like to thank Special Representative Mr. Ould Abdallah for his introduction of the Secretary-General’s report, and his very helpful briefing this morning. Piracy off the coast of Somalia continues to pose a serious threat affecting one of the most important international transport routes. Japan is deeply concerned about the loss of lives and assets owing to the sharp increase of piracy over the past year, despite our best efforts. While incidents in the Gulf of Aden have recently declined, they have moved further south and attacks in the Western Indian Ocean, closer to the Seychelles, have significantly increased. We should not tolerate piracy trying to disrupt essential United Nations activities such as the delivery of food assistance by the World Food Programme and the logistical support to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The fragile security situation in Somalia produces fertile ground for piracy, and instability caused by piracy, in turn, affects the situation on land. In order to achieve stability in Somalia as a whole, international efforts and assistance must be directed towards dealing with the unstable conditions in south-central Somalia, in particular Mogadishu, and assisting counter-piracy activities along the coastline. Given the broad scope of the negative effects of piracy, and in order to protect the vital sea route, a multifaceted and coordinated approach must be pursued at three levels: international, regional and national. The adoption of Security Council resolution 1851 (2008) led to the establishment of the Contact Group on Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia, which has met four times at the plenary level. Japan welcomes the progress the Contact Group has made and the fact that it has now developed into a coordinating forum for various counter-piracy activities with increased membership along with substantive activities on the part of the working groups. In recent plenary meeting chaired by Japan, the Contact Group decided to establish a new international trust fund to assist initiatives such as the prosecution of and judicial procedures against arrested pirates. We are also pleased that a mechanism for coordinating the operational aspect of counter-piracy activities, and is known as the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE) mechanism, is well in place. It comprises the operations of the European Union’s Operation Atalanta, NATO, the Combined Maritime Forces and States such as China, India, Japan and Russia. The challenge now is how to enhance coordination and more effectively share information to counter pirates who are always changing their tactics. In this regard, we appreciate the European Union Naval Force Operation Atalanta for escorting the delivery of the AMISOM logistical support package. For its part, Japan deploys two naval vessels and two P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft which are providing valuable information to all participating States. It has expanded the scope of escorts to include foreign vessels, effective June 2009. It is also important to strengthen the capacity of ship crews to protect themselves from piracy attacks. To that end, we welcome the New York Declaration on the Commitment to Best Management Practices to Avoid, Deter or Delay Acts of Piracy, which was originally initiated by the United States and has now been signed by ten flag State countries, including Japan. We urge other flag States to join the Declaration and implement its guidelines. Together with the global efforts, strong engagement and coordination are also indispensable at the regional level. In particular, efforts by the States in the region, such as Kenya, Yemen and Seychelles, to ensure prosecution for piracy deserve the support and assistance of the international community. The international trust fund to assist the activities of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia must become operational in a timely manner. In order to increase the capacity of these States in their anti-piracy efforts, it is also important to implement the Djibouti Code of Conduct, which was adopted by States of the region last January. Japan has contributed $13.6 million to the Djibouti Code Trust Fund of the International Maritime Organization. We hope this support will be speedily utilized by parties concerned to expedite the launching of regional centres for information-sharing in Kenya, Tanzania and Yemen, and a training centre in Djibouti. Piracy activities are closely related to the security situation on the land. Long-term solutions will require restoring stability and governance in Somalia. The Secretary-General’s report emphasizes the crucial importance of supporting Somalia’s own institutional capacity in various areas. First, it is essential to strengthen AMISOM and the Somali security institutions in south-central Somalia. Secondly, as a medium-term goal, we need to advance, stability, capacity and socio-economic development of areas outside of south-central Somalia, including Puntland, which is home to many pirates. Thirdly, we would like to see improved coordination between the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia and the International Contact Group chaired by Mr. Ould Abdallah. We look forward to enhanced coordination in the next plenary meeting of the Contact Group in January 2010. In conclusion, the international community needs to intensify the coordinated, multi-faceted anti-piracy efforts at the global, regional and national levels in order to see to it that they bear fruit. Japan will contribute positively to the ongoing negotiations on a draft resolution prepared by the United States for the renewal of the Security Council authorization.

Mr. President, the Chinese delegation thanks you for convening today’s meeting. We thank Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon for his report on piracy in Somalia (S/2009/590), as well as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ould Abdallah for his briefing this morning. Piracy activities in Somalia have become ever more rampant, posing a direct threat to the safety of international humanitarian relief activities and international navigation and a potential menace to world economic activities. In his latest report submitted to the Security Council, the Secretary- General points out that since the beginning of 2009, 34 vessels have been hijacked and 450 seafarers abducted in the waters off Somalia. China is also one of the victims of the pirate activities of Somalia. We support the collective efforts by the international community to address the problem of piracy in Somalia and hope that the international community will agree on an integrated approach to doing so at an early date. Since December 2008, the Chinese Government has, under United Nations coordination and within the framework of relevant Security Council resolutions, taken an active part in international cooperation in the fight against Somali piracy. The Chinese navy escort flotilla will continue to fulfil our Government’s commitment to protect the safety of Chinese vessels and people travelling through the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the coast of Somalia and to protect the safety of the vessels of the World Food Programme and other international organizations that are delivering humanitarian relief supplies. Our effective fight against piracy in Somalia still awaits an integrated solution. We believe that the international community should pay attention to the following priorities. First, it is imperative to strictly observe international law and relevant Security Council resolutions. In fighting piracy in Somalia, we should strictly observe the relevant rules of international law as contained in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation; act in accordance with the requirements of relevant Security Council resolutions in full respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the littoral States in particular; and maintain communication and consultation with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. Secondly, priority should be given to addressing the domestic problems of Somalia. Without an end to the domestic crisis in the country, the piracy problem cannot be rooted out. Only by continuing to consolidate the domestic process of political reconciliation in Somalia and promoting its economic development to enable the people to live and work in peace and happiness can the security situation in Somalia have any hope of gradual movement towards stability and the piracy problem be gradually rooted out. The fact that the political process of reconciliation has remained stagnant and the security situation has not fundamentally improved after so many years is a cause for concern. The international community should work harder in this area. Thirdly, assistance should be rendered to the regional States for their capacity-building. Ensuring that peace, tranquillity and safety of navigation in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters has a bearing on the interests of the littoral States and the safety of international navigation. It also requires the mutual understanding and full cooperation between the regional States and the international community. China supports the joint efforts made by the countries in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean to address the problem of piracy in Somalia through regional arrangements. We welcome the signing of the Djibouti Code of Conduct. The international community should, through various means, help the countries concerned in boosting their capacities. For over a year, despite intensified efforts by various naval forces to crack down on piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia, pirate attacks do occur frequently. We believe that, to put an effective end to pirate attacks, the international community should further expand maritime escort operations. Meanwhile, the relevant participating countries should also improve their coordination in these escort operations. With that in mind, the competent departments of China propose that the naval forces that provide escorts in these waters define areas of responsibility in order to improve the efficiency of escorts and to lessen the possibility of pirates succeeding in their attempts. At the request of Working Group 1 of the Contact Group on Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia, China hosted a meeting from 6 to 7 November, on international maritime escort coordination in the Gulf of Aden with invited representatives from countries and organizations that have participated in the fight against Somali piracy. The meeting further discussed cooperation in enforcing the concept of areas of responsibility in the Gulf of Aden. China has an open attitude towards international navigational escorts. We are ready to engage in, within the framework of international law and the relevant Security Council resolutions, multiple forms of bilateral and multilateral escort cooperation with all countries and organizations concerned in a joint response to the menace of piracy in Somalia.

I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ould Abdallah, for introducing the report of the Secretary-General (S/2009/590). I also welcome the Permanent Representative of Somalia, Ambassador Duale. In spite of the ongoing multinational naval operations off the coast of Somalia and around the Gulf of Aden, which are aimed at increasing maritime security and securing the delivery of international assistance, the acts of piracy in the region remain a source of concern for the international community. It is crucial to effectively and robustly address this problem. We praise the efforts of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, which is definitely an important international cooperation mechanism in all aspects of combating piracy. Turkey joined the Group as a founding member, and we have been actively contributing to its work. We are pleased to see the increased interaction between the Group and the United Nations. Turkey is of the opinion that that it is crucial for the Contact Group to continue to play a leading role in setting up a solid legal framework and practical arrangements in order to clarify pending legal issues concerning the arrest, detention, prosecution, trial and extradition of suspected pirates and to strengthen related cooperation. Working Group 2 of the Contact Group has already gone a long way in this regard. The increase in the number of pirate attacks in 2009 despite all efforts of the international community indicates that satisfactory deterrence has not been fully achieved. One of the main factors behind this is undoubtedly the lack of capacity to detain and punish perpetrators who are apprehended. If we want to sustain the success of the ongoing operations, we should continue to explore legal options for the effective prosecution of suspected pirates. Hence, Turkey believes that it would be useful if a mechanism were to be put in place in one of the countries in the region, under the supervision of the United Nations, to effectively prosecute persons suspected of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia. That would no doubt require the support of the international community for the enhancement of capacity in the States of the region. We believe that the newly established trust fund can be utilized in this regard. Given the vastness of the area, Turkey believes that it is vital to improve and develop operational and intelligence support to counter-piracy operations. That said, we welcome the establishment of the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE) group. It will no doubt help contribute to interoperability among the naval forces. Sharing of information should not be limited to the maritime area, but also be extended to relevant airspace and mainland with the active contribution of the regional countries and organizations. We welcome the contributions of INTERPOL in this regard. Allow me to briefly say a few words about what Turkey has done in the fight against acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea. Thus far, Turkey has taken part, with four frigates, in the efforts aimed at repressing such acts under the Standing Maritime Group 2 of NATO and Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151). Indeed, CTF-151 was commanded by Turkish naval forces from May through August 2009. Today a Turkish frigate with air assets is operating in the region, pursuant to the provisions of the relevant Security Council resolutions. To date, the Turkish naval elements in the region have apprehended some 30 piracy suspects in various operations. The Turkish maritime authorities are actively seized of the issue of strengthening situational awareness for commercial ships and other capabilities. For that purpose, the document on best management practices to deter piracy has been widely circulated to the industry. A national maritime armed robbery information system has also been initiated. We should continue to concentrate and cooperate on the elimination of the root causes of piracy that are embedded in Somalia. We share the view that measures taken to combat piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia can yield results only if they are coupled with the efforts to strengthen the capacity of both the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and the African Union Mission in Somalia.

At the outset, I would like to express our appreciation to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, for his briefing. We would also like to commend the significant and ongoing efforts that he and his team have been making to bring about security, peace and stability in Somalia. Piracy off the coast of Somalia continues to threaten the security and safety of international navigation off the coast of eastern Africa. Efforts thus far have not managed to eliminate the threat, although they have greatly limited piracy. That reaffirms that piracy is a natural result of the unstable situation in Somalia in terms of security and the absence of State authority in general. This problem will not be eliminated just by dispatching naval forces. Dealing with it requires a more comprehensive and integrated approach. We share the Secretary-General’s view that one of the means to guarantee the security of marine navigation off the coast of Somalia in the long term will be to achieve stability on the ground through development, promotion of economic revival in local communities, consolidation of the rule of law, development of security institutions and provision of support to the Transitional Federal Government and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Any solution must also include capacity-building, especially for Somali judicial and maritime institutions at the local and national levels and in the region in general, the prosecution of those suspected of piracy and armed robbery at sea and strict compliance with the arms embargo imposed by the Security Council. If implemented, those measures will eventually obviate the need for the international marine presence, which is currently playing an important role in securing international marine navigation. We would like to encourage the States and organizations that participate in those forces to examine a way to implement capacity-building measures in Somalia and find a solution to the root causes of piracy. We urge those States to protect Somali sea resources, in particular from illegal fishing operations by foreign vessels, which we believe are one of the main motives for piracy. In addition, we encourage the international community to continue to deploy such naval forces in strict compliance with the international law of the sea in order to offer protection to all shipments contracted by the United Nations and the World Food Programme, including along the routes used to deliver logistical support to AMISOM and international maritime trade routes. We believe that suspected pirates apprehended off the Somali coast must be handed over to the Government of Somalia, which is responsible for prosecuting them. We urge the international community to help the Government of Somalia by providing technical assistance to its judicial bodies. In that connection, we encourage Member States to contribute to the international trust fund designed to help defray the expenses associated with the prosecution of suspected pirates as well as other activities related to combating piracy. The Government of Somalia can sign agreements with other countries in the region providing for the prosecution of suspects apprehended in those countries and specify where they will serve their sentences if found guilty. In closing, we wish to stress that providing support to the Government of Somalia to help it establish its authority throughout the country is of the utmost importance if our efforts to combat piracy and eliminate its root causes are to be successful. We also wish to encourage the Contact Group on Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia to coordinate its activities and initiatives with those of the International Contact Group on Somalia. In addition, we note the urgent need to draft an agreement that would protect Somalia’s sea resources from arbitrary use and would prevent pirates from launching attacks on navigation in international waters.

I wish to express appreciation for the valuable information provided by Ambassador Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, and to acknowledge his commitment and efforts and those of his team in seeking solutions to the problems faced by Somalia. We also welcome the presence of Ambassador Elmi Ahmed Duale, Permanent Representative of Somalia. We believe that the report of the Secretary- General (S/2009/590) is very clear on a number of points. One of them is that the phenomenon of piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia is a challenge requiring fully coordinated urgent action by the Transitional Federal Government, the countries of the region and the international community. One year ago, the Security Council acted decisively against that threat by adopting resolutions 1846 (2008) and 1851 (2008). The cooperation, commitment and commendable work of many countries has produced a common front against such acts. Nevertheless, the number of attacks and hijackings off the coast of Somalia, in the Gulf of Aden and in the western Indian Ocean in 2009 is higher than that recorded in 2008. We are also concerned at the fact that, in addition to the increase in the number of acts of piracy and armed robbery committed in recent days, smaller vessels, such as fishing boats and pleasure craft, are being attacked. We acknowledge the efforts being made by the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, in particular to promote greater coordination with the Puntland and Somaliland regions in seeking to prosecute suspected pirates. We commend the coordination and cooperation efforts between Operation Atalanta, NATO, Combined Task Force 151 and Member States and naval forces in the region to carry out monitoring and escorts. In particular, we pay tribute to Operation Atalanta for its efforts to escort and protect vessels related to the World Food Programme and the African Union Mission in Somalia. With regard to the Contact Group on Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia, we recognize as an important step forward the establishment of the international trust fund to support the prosecution of suspected pirates and other initiatives of the Group, as well as the efforts being made in its working groups to promote greater coordination and capacity-building, to disseminate best practices and to strengthen counter-piracy legal mechanisms. Regarding the latter point, we reaffirm that those responsible for acts of piracy must be brought to justice in accordance with the applicable legal regime, including standards in the area of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Moreover, we also highlight the work done by the International Maritime Organization in setting out guidelines and specific actions to be taken by States, as well as the joint efforts with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to correct the deficiencies of national legislative systems. In that connection, the widespread implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct is essential. That would enable States in the region to take part in actions carried out by international forces, through the strengthening of their legal and judicial capacities. As we have stated on previous occasions, my delegation believes that piracy off the coast of Somalia is not a phenomenon isolated from the situation on the ground and that the solution to both problems requires a comprehensive approach. This must include, among other elements, developing the rule of law and security institutions as a complement to the peace process, strengthening the Transitional Federal Institutions, building the capacity of judicial institutions and prosecuting criminal suspects in order to combat impunity. Finally, my delegation has emphasized both in the Security Council and in the Contact Group on Piracy the negative impact of this phenomenon on the sanctions regime with regard to Somalia. Such acts, in addition to being apparent violations of the arms embargo, undermine the stability and security of the country and directly affect access of humanitarian aid. Mexico, in its capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 751 (1992) concerning Somalia, reaffirms that it is essential that the States and multinational maritime coalitions deploying forces to combat piracy cooperate with the Monitoring Group on Somalia by providing information in a systematic and timely manner on actions that violate the sanctions regime and which have a particularly negative impact on efforts to promote economic and social development in Somalia and on the consolidation of the Government and the institutions of Somalia.

We, too, would like to thank Mr. Ould Abdallah, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, for his significant contribution and for the valuable insights he presented here today. Croatia has aligned itself with the statement to be delivered later in this debate by the Swedish presidency of the European Union. Croatia notes the recent progress that has been achieved in Somalia but, at the same time, perceives the scope and the complexity of the challenges still lying ahead for that country. Undoubtedly, piracy represents one of the burning issues, threatening not only the key international shipping lanes and commerce but also the effective provision of much- needed humanitarian assistance. Croatia fully supports the Djibouti Peace Agreement as a necessary prerequisite for the sustainable resolution of many pressing challenges in Somalia. We are of the view that reinforcing Somali sovereignty, as well as strengthening the capacity of the Somali Government to provide law and order and sustainable livelihoods for its people, will significantly contribute to the eradication of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast. Let me repeat here the evident and often reiterated conviction of this Council: there can be no security along the Somali coast without genuine security on its land. It is therefore apparent that only an integrated approach has the possibility of yielding results. In that context, Croatia commends the African Union Mission in Somalia for the important role it is playing in supporting the Transitional Federal Government in its efforts to implement the aforementioned strategy, as well as for its endeavours to bring about a long-term political security recovery and development changes. Croatia welcomes the continuing strong commitment of the international community to the Somali Government in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolution and applicable international law. In that context, we further welcome the Somali Government’s renewed request for assistance in securing international and territorial waters off the coast of Somalia, and the continuing implementation of the provisions of resolution 1846 (2008). Croatia believes that the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia is proving to be an effective coordination mechanism of the international community. We welcome its decision to establish a trust fund with the purpose of supporting adequate measures against piracy and related activities aimed at implementing the Group’s objectives. Moreover, we welcome additional coordinating efforts within the naval forces operating in the region, including the establishment of Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE), as well as the continuing coordination between the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia and the International Contact Group on Somalia. We are heartened to see such efforts bearing fruit, the testimony of which is the considerable reduction in the number of successful pirate attacks registered in recent months. Croatia believes that the Governments of the region should play a vital role in establishing conditions for effectively combating piracy. We commend the Government of Kenya for its significant efforts in that regard, and especially for its readiness to detain and prosecute pirates apprehended by other participants in the common efforts against piracy. It is our hope that other countries that have expressed their willingness will shortly be ready to follow suit. Similarly, we call on regional States to fully implement the Djibouti Code of Conduct as an important step towards assuming increasing responsibility in the fight against piracy and robbery at sea. We particularly welcome further progress in the field of regional capacity-building, and call upon all States to continue logistic and financial support of such regional efforts.

About a year and a half has now passed since the Security Council seriously took up the problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia and began to develop measures to combat this evil. We think it is now time to offer an interim assessment of the results of the work done, on the basis of the report of the Secretary- General (S/2009/590) submitted to the Council under resolution 1846 (2008). The situation in the Gulf of Aden is still far from normal, and the danger of a further increase in piracy has not been eliminated. Yet much has been done in mobilizing the international community to counter this threat. First of all, there is now a firm understanding that the most important element in resolving the problem of piracy off the Horn of Africa is the stabilization of the situation in Somalia: bringing order on land. We believe that along with maintaining a naval presence in areas dangerous to shipping, our other priority must remain the stabilization of the military and political situation within the country. In this connection, we note the important part played by the African Union Mission in Somalia. Russia has always advocated sustainable peace and national reconciliation in Somalia on the basis of the Djibouti Agreement, in the interests of strengthening security and stability in the region. The world community must broaden its participation in efforts in the area of security, including those of the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union and other organizations, with the focus on building up the potential of the Government of Somalia to discharge its basic functions. States and regional organizations cooperating with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia in combating piracy are cooperating closely in military, political and legal areas, and are working to improve them through the appropriate coordination mechanisms. In this context, we would stress the key part played by the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. There has been growing awareness in the international community and the shipping industry of the methods used by pirates when they attack, and thus a growing arsenal of measures has been developed to counter such attacks. We note here the important contribution of the International Maritime Organization. We welcome the initiatives taken by the United Nations in combating piracy and call for further strengthening of its role in this area. We are particularly grateful to the Secretariat for acting as an information exchange centre and for its valuable work relating to peace on land, as well as for its ideas in the area of capacity-building. We must combat impunity and give greater attention to prosecuting people suspected of piracy. This is not just about ensuring that punishment is unavoidable, but also about meeting appropriate standards in the area of human rights. We note the significance of efforts to resolve this problem at the level of the national judiciary, and particularly cooperation on the part of authorities in Kenya and other countries in the region. We welcome the decision of the Contact Group on Piracy to set up a trust fund to support anti-piracy initiatives. At the same time, as experience shows, it is not always possible to ensure criminal prosecution of pirates in national courts. Initiatives aimed at studying possible additional mechanisms concerning this problem are therefore still relevant. Work in this area not only does not contradict efforts at the national level, it is capable of organically complementing them. The Russian Federation continues to be actively involved in combating piracy off the coast of Somalia. We currently have a group of ships from the Russian Navy in the area, the third since October 2008. We intend to build up interaction with other interested parties in dealing with all aspects of this issue. It is important to ensure that international anti-piracy efforts go uninterrupted within the existing mandate. In this connection, we support the extension of Security Council sanctions, as requested by the Transitional Federal Government, on comprehensive measures to halt piracy and armed robbery at sea under resolutions 1846 (2008) and 1851 (2008).

I should like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Mr. Ould Abdallah, for his briefing and for the work he is doing in Somalia. The pirates are still a threat, first of all to the people of Somalia, since half of all Somalis are now dependent on international aid, and virtually all of this aid reaches Somalia by sea. The pirates are also a threat to the troops of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), as their supplies, again, essentially come by sea. Lastly, they imperil international shipping off the coast of Somalia, one of the most dense shipping areas in the world. Many of the previous speakers have indicated that the deep- rooted causes of piracy are to be sought on land, and that the insecurity prevailing after more than 20 years of conflict, the lack of a State, the absence of legal economic possibilities and the actions of criminal groups have created the conditions that have led to the appearance of piracy. We are all in agreement that security and development will in the long term prevail. In the short term, however, resolute action by the international community is essential in order to limit the effects of piracy. Any slackening in our endeavours would have immediate consequences. France notes that during the two months in two years when the World Food Programme (WFP) received no protection for its ships, it had to cut its shipments by 50 per cent, to the detriment of the civilian population. In his report (S/2009/590) the Secretary-General described the various efforts being deployed by the international community. Through Operation Atalanta, the European Union is playing an essential role here, and regional organizations and national partners, such as the Russian Federation, China and Japan, are also involved in these activities. France is playing an active role through Operation Atalanta as well as in its national capacity. In parallel, we have been able to improve coordination. The Contact Group on Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia, with 45 States members, is playing an essential role in making political, legal and military progress. The Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE) mechanism in the framework of the Contact Group’s Working Group 1 is enhancing the exchange of operational information with a view to working together more effectively. We have come along way since the first operations to protect World Food Programme (WFP) vessels, in November 2007. Our efforts are beginning to bear fruit. The report of the Secretary-General (S/2009/590) indicates that while the number of attacks remains high, a large proportion of them are foiled thanks to the international presence. The European Union has committed itself to continuing Operation Atalanta, deployed in December 2008, at least through December 2010. In that way, it will continue to provide protection to WFP vessels and provide resolute support to other vulnerable vessels, including those chartered by the United Nations in order to supply the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). This poses a particularly significant challenge, as 80 per cent of those convoys have come under attack in the past. Operation Atalanta and the countries of the European Union will be considering the expanded sphere of operation of the pirates in the Indian Ocean. France has provided assistance to Seychelles, and the European Union has signed an anti-piracy agreement with Seychelles, which will make it possible for pirates apprehended by Operation Atalanta to be transferred to Seychelles. Clearly, I support the statement to be made by the representative of Sweden on behalf of the European Union presidency. As we pursuing our efforts we must retain the legal framework of our activities and extend resolutions 1846 (2008) and 1851 (2008) for a further year, which authorize participating countries, under strict conditions, to enter Somali territorial waters and take action against pirates. I am grateful to the delegation of the United States for its draft resolution and trust that the Council will adopt it in the coming days. Effective action also requires diversification, and we have begun to do that. Beyond the military aspects, it is essential that we improve legal redress for acts of piracy, as mentioned by the representative of the Russian Federation. In the near future, the international community must provide material assistance to Somalia and other countries of the region to enable them to apprehend, prosecute and punish pirates. Here, France commends Kenya’s endeavours in that regard and supports the trust fund that the Contact Group decided on 10 September to establish, to which we shall be making a contribution. We also encourage all States to amend their legislation to make it possible to try acts of piracy within their jurisdictions. Finally, we must continue to address more directly the root causes of piracy. The European Union has begun to consider this and has indicated its willingness to provide enhanced support to the Transitional Federal Government, for instance, in combating illegal fishing. We must continue such efforts, while ensuring that naval forces combating piracy off the coast of Somalia are not faced with tasks that are too numerous, too diverse or too far from their mission. The true significance of Security Council action off the coast of Somalia is seen when we consider the Council’s comprehensive strategy for that country. Provisions adopted by the Council include support for the Transitional Federal Government, resolute support for AMISOM, including the use of United Nations resources, and a sanctions regime that has been renewed and enhanced by resolution 1844 (2008). We still must make progress on all those fronts. France wishes in particular to see the pirates and their supporters punished as individuals. I wish in conclusion to note that the Security Council was innovative in adopting resolution 1816 (2008) on 2 June 2008, with the aim of combating piracy off the coast of Somalia. The international community has been able to make use of the new tools that the Council has provided through its resolutions. International mobilization is strikingly broad and is complemented by the development, through the Contact Group, of a new framework for cooperation, in close association with the United Nations Secretariat. This encourages us that the Council will continue its work in Somalia, beyond the issue of piracy, in the framework of a specific and pragmatic strategy. Once again, I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for helping ensure that the international community takes consistent action on Somalia. I assure him of our full support.

Let me begin by thanking Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, for his briefing. I wish also to welcome the presence among us of Ambassador Duale. Over the past year, fighting piracy and armed robbery off the coast of the Horn of Africa has been a focus of the international community, leading to the implementation of a number of initiatives by States, organizations and international naval forces. We welcome those coordinated efforts. The number of attacks has fallen, and there is relative stability along this important economic route, which is also needed for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the region. But we have some doubts about whether these achievements can be sustained, given that this phenomenon — which began as a low-level local activity — has become a big business with sophisticated equipment for attacks and multi-million-dollar profits. It can thus be assumed that it is supported by complex transnational structures. In our view it is important that future reports the Secretary-General make reference to that element and consider possible sources of support and financing for piracy in the area. Alongside initiatives to deal with maritime attacks in the area, it is also important to build the capacity to investigate and prosecute those suspected of these acts. Combating impunity is without doubt a deterrent for anyone who is thinking of carrying out illegal activities. Here, we commend Kenya for its action to put suspects on trial, and we urge other countries, including Somalia, to strengthen their legislation, procedures and capacities so that they can hold such trials. Assistance from the United Nations and other international organizations, along with the implementation of legal instruments such as the Djibouti Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, would also be very important in achieving results. As everyone knows, piracy and armed robbery in Somalia are symptoms of a far deeper crisis in that country. Hence, we should very carefully consider the root causes of Somalia’s problems. When we analyse the situation there, we must do so in the framework of a long-term strategy for the restoration of normality that would include the humanitarian, political, security and development dimensions. In Costa Rica’s view there are four interrelated areas that demand the attention of this Council and the international community. First, we must continue to support the Transitional Federal Government so that it can achieve an effective framework for security, augment control of the territory and of the means for cohesion and promote an inclusive political process. The Djibouti peace process offers an adequate setting for working towards those goals. Secondly, we have to intensify efforts to further strengthen the rule of law and to provide proper training for the Somali security forces. Costa Rica recognizes the work being done by the Transitional Federal Government and by AMISOM with the support of the United Nations. Strict compliance with the arms embargo in Somalia is an indispensable instrument. Also, we support the Monitoring Group on Somalia and call for cooperation with it to help with compliance with the obligations deriving from the resolutions adopted by this Council. Thirdly, we must maintain and strengthen efforts to deal with the humanitarian situation in Somalia. It is essential to ensure delivery of assistance for the fifty per cent of the people who depend on it. Attacks on humanitarian organs and their personnel must cease. In parallel, we have to ensure that we promote development assistance so that sustainable economic activities can grow and dependence on humanitarian aid can be reduced. Lastly, financing the various initiatives to help Somalia overcome the crisis must continue being one of the main concerns of the international community. Costa Rica urges States and donors to continue to provide resources to the trust funds. In doing so, they will confirm their commitment to peace and stability in that region.

I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Mr. Ould Abdallah, for his briefing this morning, and I welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Somalia, Mr. Duale, in today’s Council meeting. One of the many negative consequences of the conflict in Somalia and of the absence of strong institutions in the country is piracy. It started around the coast of Somalia, but it has now expanded further out, to international waters. Piracy is negatively impacting international trade and tourism, fuelling the illegal arms trade and the financing of insurgents and terrorism in Somalia and beyond. Given the disruptive nature of piracy, it is only fitting that the international community responds to the problem appropriately. In that regard we support multinational and regional efforts aimed at combating and suppressing piracy and armed robbery at sea. The Secretary-General’s report (S/2009/590) outlines the measures in place or being put in place and those proposed to address the problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia. The deployment of naval assets, including those under the European Union’s Operation Atalanta, NATO’s maritime forces, the United States- led Combined Maritime Forces and those of individual States, have all contributed to checking the incidences of piracy in the coastal region neighbouring Somalia, thus affording some level of protection for international trade and delivery of humanitarian supplies to Somalia. Furthermore, the creation of the Contact Group on Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia to help coordinate the various efforts is a notable contribution in the fight against piracy. Commendable as these efforts may be, the struggle against piracy will be won not on the high seas but on land, in Somalia. The amount of resources that have been deployed either directly on the high seas or indirectly through targeting off-shore solutions to the problem of piracy is enormous and must be running in billions of dollars each year. Yet, much as the incidences have been checked, piracy persists and will persist for as long as the instability on mainland Somalia remains and State institutions remain fragile. As outlined in Secretary-General’s report, there is a big difference between, on the one hand, the robust and concrete responses by States acting either individually or in cooperation with others in deploying resources at sea and, on the other, the cautious and incremental stance by the international community when it comes to addressing the root causes of piracy on mainland Somalia. While we support the measures that have been deployed at sea by Member States to deal effectively with the problem of piracy, equally robust measures should be put in place on mainland Somalia, backed by similar, or more, resources. Such measures should include enhancing support to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to enable the force to effectively implement its mandate and providing it with additional personnel so that it reaches its authorized capacity of 8,000 troops in preparation for its eventual re-hatting. Equally, it is imperative that the Transitional Federal Government be sufficiently supported to strengthen State institutions, particularly in the security sector. Strengthening State institutions is the most effective durable way of combating piracy in the waters off Somalia. Lastly, we thank the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Mr. Ould Abdallah, and the staff of United Nations agencies and the humanitarian agencies for the support extended to the Somali people in difficult circumstances.

I shall now deliver a statement in my national capacity. At the outset, I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ould Abdallah, for his presentation and for his work in Somalia, as well as the efforts of the entire United Nations family in these very difficult circumstances — including, in particular, the International Maritime Organization and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. I would also like to welcome the presence of His Excellency the Permanent Representative of Somalia. Austria aligns itself with the statement to be delivered later in this meeting by Sweden on behalf of the European Union. Allow me to add a few additional points. My delegation agrees with previous speakers that piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Aden are directly linked to the lack of stability and the disastrous economic situation in Somalia. At the same time, piracy contributes to the deterioration of the security situation and may play a role in financing embargo violations. As some merchant vessels are choosing different routes, piracy also hurts the economic situation of the region. Moreover, it negatively affects the delivery of much-needed aid to Somalia. Austria expresses its deep concern about the continuing deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Somalia and its dire consequences for the civilian population, in particular women and children. The European Union Naval Force Operation Atalanta aims to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia, with the primary goal of protecting vessels of the World Food Programme delivering food aid. We would also like to commend the naval engagement of other States and organizations cooperating in the fight against piracy in the framework of the international Contact Group. The implementation of the pertinent international legal regime — particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 1988 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation — presents considerable challenges for States parties to those conventions in the region. Austria attaches great importance to full respect for all applicable norms of international law, in particular international human rights law, including the right to a fair trial and non-refoulement. We welcome the fact that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) contributes to countering maritime piracy in the Horn of Africa through a programme to increase regional capacities to deter, arrest, prosecute and detain pirates. As the Secretary-General noted in his report (S/2009/590), the prosecution of suspected pirates apprehended off the coast of Somalia is a burden for regional States, especially Kenya and the Seychelles. In that regard, we welcome the Contact Group’s establishment of the international trust fund, administered by the UNODC. We believe that in addition to the naval operations, the development of rule of law and security institutions in Somalia, improvement in livelihoods and education are important factors for the durable eradication of piracy off the coast of Somalia. I now resume my function as President of the Council. I give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Elmi Ahmed Duale, Permanent Representative of Somalia.

Thank you, Mr. President, for allowing me to participate in this meeting and to make a brief statement. First of all, I welcome the report of the Secretary- General (S/2009/590) and support the statement by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah. We also support the efforts by the International Maritime Organization in the implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct, with which we agree fully. Before I go any further, allow me, on behalf of my Government and my Mission, to voice our grave concern and convey our sincere and heartfelt sympathy for all the crew and the two British citizens who are still at the mercy of pirates. We hope that they will soon be released. As has been stated here by all Council members and mentioned in the Secretary-General’s report, and as you, Sir, said in a nutshell, the piracy problem is a symptom of the major problems that have been bedevilling Somalia for a long time — nearly two decades. As many have stated here, that requires a concerted, coordinated effort at the international, regional and local, country level. Towards that end I am pleased to state that Somalia has created a coast guard body and has already trained 1,000 coast guard personnel. The plan is to train and deploy up to 10,000. However, as has been mentioned, further training, equipment and other assistance is required to make them effective and so that they can be deployed in areas where they are most needed, in north-eastern Somalia. The coast guard will be able to exert greater control if it is enabled not only to fight piracy at the local level, but also to control the illegal fishing, the dumping of toxic waste and the smuggling of arms and drugs, for which Somalia can be used as a conduit for smuggling to all neighbouring and regional countries. Finally, I hope that the Security Council will renew the mandate, as the Transitional Federal Government has already requested. In that connection, our Government once again conveys its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Council members and the regional and international organizations assisting in the challenge of combating the scourge of piracy off the coast of Somalia. It has requested that the Council renew its approval contained in resolution 1846 (2008) and welcomes the renewal, for a period of twelve months, of the authority provided in paragraph 6 of resolution 1851 (2008) to those combating the scourge of piracy on the high seas off the coast of Somalia. We are also grateful for the support we have so far received from our regional groups: the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the African Union Mission in Somalia, without which, I believe, the Transitional Federal Government would have been in a much worse situation. I also fully subscribe to the statements by Council members, particularly when you, Sir, summarized the point regarding support for the Somali Transitional Federal Government to enable it to control Somali ports against piracy and also to better control any illegal fishing or dumping of toxic waste, which are what the pirates now claim to be acting against.

I now give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Sweden.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The candidate countries Turkey, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Armenia and Georgia, align themselves with this statement. Acts of piracy are illegal and can never be tolerated. The ongoing naval operations off the coast of Somalia have increased maritime security and secured the delivery of international assistance. The Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia has facilitated policy cooperation and coordination. In this framework, we have also managed to establish an efficient coordination mechanism — the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction group — among the multinational, regional and national naval forces operating in the area. All actors should support existing coordination efforts. More can be done besides engaging in coordinated efforts to protect vessels. We need to improve our dialogue on maritime issues with the local Somali communities. Other illegal activities besides piracy should be acknowledged and discussed. Collaboration should be encouraged between Somalia and other countries in the region with more experience in licensing of fishing and unlicensed fishing. Previous United Nations studies on Somalia regarding illegal fishing and illegal dumping should be updated. We should continue to explore legal options for suspected pirates who are apprehended. Efficient and credible trials of suspected pirates are essential to sustaining the progress made through the ongoing operations. Kenya has made a very significant contribution through the transfer agreement with the European Union regarding prosecution. Kenya has so far agreed to detain and prosecute 75 suspected pirates whom the European Union has apprehended. The European Union appreciates that a similar arrangement was concluded recently with Seychelles. We support the decision of the Contact Group to establish a trust fund in order to support the detention, prosecution and imprisonment of pirates. Besides the pirates, we must also take measures to target the criminal networks, not only in Somalia but also beyond, that finance and organize piracy. The European Union continues to contribute successfully to maritime security in the area through the naval Operation Atalanta. We have decided to extend the mandate until the end of 2010 subject to the decision by the Security Council to extend the authorization in resolution 1846 (2008). Since December 2008, Atalanta has provided vital protection to 50 World Food Programme vessels delivering roughly 300,000 tons of food to the direct benefit of 1.6 million Somalis. It has also provided protection to vessels carrying shipments to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and to other vulnerable vessels. Atalanta has also had a leading role in the coordination of the different operations in the area. Piracy off the coast of Somalia can be eradicated only if the situation on the mainland is stabilized. We have to address the root causes. Somalia remains a country in conflict and insecurity is widespread there. Governance is fragmented. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) is constantly under attack from insurgent groups and has not been able to protect its citizens or uphold law and order. The European Union supports the efforts of the Transitional Federal Government and the ongoing Djibouti process. The political process has to be accompanied by a comprehensive and coordinated approach to achieving a lasting settlement. This includes covering political, security, development and humanitarian aspects of the crisis. Clearly articulated political commitments and priorities on behalf of the Transitional Federal Government are key to efficient support. In this regard, we welcome the first steps taken by the TFG to establish accountable financing systems. In July, the European Union decided to step up its engagement in promoting peace and development in Somalia. For us, it is essential to support the TFG in its efforts to increase security and stability in its territory. Besides ongoing support to AMISOM, the European Union is therefore considering a possible mission to contribute to the training of the security forces of the Transitional Federal Government. We continue to be an active member of the International Contact Group on Somalia and to deliver substantial humanitarian and development aid. Acts of piracy can have an impact on human life, the environment and the safety of navigation and of crew members. In Somalia, piracy can also affect the delivery of humanitarian aid to 3.8 million people in need of relief. It is a threat to international commerce, and ultimately to peace and security in the region. The regional dimension has been emphasized lately by the expanding activities of the pirates. It is in the interests of Somalia, the region and the international community to address the menace of piracy off the coast of Somalia. Together, we can do that.

I now give the floor to the representative of Ukraine.

On behalf of the Ukrainian delegation, I would like to thank you, Sir, for holding this important meeting and for inviting Ukraine to participate. I would also like to wish the Austrian delegation and you personally every success in fulfilling your highly responsible duties as the Security Council President. Our appreciation also goes to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Mr. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, for presenting the second report of the Secretary-General (S/2009/590) pursuant to resolution 1846 (2008), dealing with the issue of piracy off the coast of Somalia. Aligning ourselves with the statement of the European Union, my delegation would like to point out some issues of particular relevance to Ukraine. Like the previous report of the Secretary-General (S/2009/146), the document before the Security Council today details a worldwide surge in the number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea against vessels. It convincingly testifies that this challenge is no longer confined to the Gulf of Aden. It has become global, requiring a global, coordinated and integrated response. Ukraine believes that the United Nations should play a lead role in these efforts. Ukraine welcomes actions taken by the Security Council to counter piracy, including the adoption of resolution 1846 (2008), which my country co-sponsored. We support the adoption of its successor resolution with the aim of extending and fine-tuning the anti-piracy measures put in place by the Security Council. My delegation strongly believes that the Security Council should remain actively seized of this matter. Ukraine commends the activity of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, which has already proved to be instrumental in facilitating coordination among the major actors, aimed at combating piracy in all its aspects. We look forward to the early launching of the trust fund to support counter- piracy initiatives off the coast of Somalia. My country appreciates the standing invitation to participate in the meetings of the Contact Group and is ready to contribute to its fulfilling its mandate in every practical way. Ukraine considers European Union naval force Operation Atalanta to be an important element of the international community’s efforts aimed at enhancing the safety of navigation and at preventing and combating piracy. We take positive note of the efforts of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the United States-led Combined Maritime Forces, aimed at fighting piracy off the coast of Somalia, which have also contributed to reducing the number of successful hijackings. Ukraine takes the challenge of piracy with the utmost seriousness. Ranking fifth among the countries whose citizens are contracted to the international merchant fleet, Ukraine is seriously suffering from acts of piracy. At the time of this meeting, Somali pirates continue to hold hostage 24 Ukrainians, the crew of the vessel Ariana captured on 2 May. Over the past five years, 15 vessels with Ukrainians on board have been hijacked by pirates. Sixty-seven of my compatriots have been captured by the Somali pirates, among whom one has been shot dead and one seriously injured. In his address to international organizations, President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko urged the international community to redouble its practical efforts to fight piracy at sea. A number of proposals have been put forward to this end, some of which, such as the establishment of regional coordination centres for navigation safety, are already being implemented. With a focus on the legal and methodological aspects of the global anti-piracy campaign, Ukraine, in the framework of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), was one of the initiators of the IMO resolution on piracy and armed robbery of ships in waters off the coast of Somalia, which preceded relevant Security Council resolutions. The political decision was taken by the President of Ukraine to join the European Union Operation Atalanta. At this stage, we are carefully studying the modalities of our involvement in this maritime coalition, either through intelligence, logistical or military support. Ukraine is also considering making a contribution to the trust fund to support counter-piracy initiatives. We welcome recent international meetings on piracy, which reveal the strong political resolve of the United Nations Member States to deal with this challenge. In order to maintain this positive dynamic, Ukraine is ready to host one such future event under the auspices of the United Nations. It is obvious that the roots of piracy lie on the ground and not at sea. They are closely linked to political, economic and social conditions, mainly extreme poverty and lack of food. Fully backing the comprehensive and coherent United Nations policy recognizing the interconnected nature of security and development, this year Ukraine has become a donor to the World Food Programme, with contributions totalling more than $500,000. I would like to conclude by reaffirming the strong commitment of Ukraine to contribute to the efforts of the Security Council aimed at countering maritime piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia.

I now give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Norway.

I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ould Abdallah, for his important presentation here today and for the work he is doing under difficult circumstances. I am also pleased to see my colleague, the Permanent Representative of Somalia, participating in our meeting, and I listened carefully to his important statement as well. Piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden continue to threaten the people of Somalia, the whole region and a series of protected interests. Those interests include innocent lives, humanitarian supplies and international commerce and navigation. Some 1,000 Norwegian- owned ships pass through the Gulf of Aden every year. We, too, are directly affected, and we are acting accordingly. The root of piracy and armed robbery is instability and the weakening of Government institutions in Somalia. Consequently, in order to restore order on the seas we must work to restore order on land in Somalia. Bringing peace and stability to Somalia and re-establishing effective Government institutions in the country is essential to a long-term solution to piracy as well. Humanitarian, development and security assistance is therefore needed. Norway is conscious of this and we are shouldering our part. Norway will also be chairing the next meeting of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, which will take place here in New York in January. We are beginning to see the effects of preventive measures taken by the shipping industry itself. The best management practices adopted by the Contact Group on piracy are thus serving their purpose, and implementation by all needs to be further encouraged. Moreover, the naval operations in the waters outside Somalia have prevented new captures even if we have not prevented them all. Those operations are well coordinated and may set a good example on how nations and international organizations can cooperate in order to solve an international security problem. Norway has experienced this first-hand through our participation with a frigate in the European Union’s Operation Atalanta. We appreciate the contributions of a great number of countries and organizations. Now, we must make sure that pirates captured are brought to justice. We greatly appreciate the contributions of countries in the region, in particular Kenya and Seychelles. We recognize that there is a need for increased capacity in those, the most affected countries. That is why Norway has decided to contribute €500,000 to the trust fund established under the auspices of the Contact Group on piracy. Public perceptions are also important. We know that many Somalis consider piracy to be a criminal activity. We know less about how the entire international engagement is perceived in Somalia. We therefore believe that the Contact Group should implement a communication and information strategy for Somalia. We must be able to convince the Somalis that this operation is also serving their interests and to counter any notion that piracy is seen as a just cause by parts of Somali society. In conclusion, Norway will continue to support the Security Council in its efforts to address piracy of the coast of Somalia.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Philippines.

At the outset, Mr. President, the Philippines congratulates you on Austria’s assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of November, and thanks you for convening this very important meeting to discuss piracy in the territorial waters and even on the high seas off the coast of Somalia. We also thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Mr. Ould Abdallah, for presenting the Secretary- General’s report on piracy in Somalia (S/2009/590). The Philippines is extremely alarmed and gravely concerned over the resurgence of piracy, a detestable crime condemned by the civilized world, committed against innocent vessels and their officers and crew members particularly in waters off the coast of Somalia. This resurgence, carried on with blatant disregard for the public outcry of the international community against it, has resulted in the capture and detention as hostages of many Philippine nationals on board these vessels. As the supplier of a third of the world’s shipping manpower, with over 270,000 Filipino seafarers aboard international shipping vessels, the Philippines is directly affected by piracy off the coast of Somalia. In the first quarter of this year alone, 120 out of 300 hostages taken by pirates were from the Philippines, the largest national contingent of the group. As of 5 November, more than 160 Filipino seafarers on board various merchant vessels had been abducted by pirates off the coast of Somalia since January. This month alone, 16 Filipino seamen were abducted by these pirates in a span of just one week. Piracy in the area now constitutes a threat to the lives of many Philippines nationals. The Philippines joins the call for concrete efforts from the international community to address piracy off the coast of Somalia and to increase efforts to assist seamen from all nations who have suffered as a result of these heinous acts. The Philippines recognizes the efforts undertaken by the Security Council to address these acts of piracy in waters off the coast of Somalia, as best evidenced by its adoption of resolutions 1816 (2008), 1838 (2008), 1846 (2008) and 1851 (2008). The Philippines looks forward to further, bolder steps to be taken by the Security Council to counter piracy. Moreover, the Philippines expects that future actions by the Security Council will take into full consideration the safety and security of the lives of the hostages. The Philippines also fully supports efforts led by the United Nations and concerned countries and international organizations to assist in the stabilization of Somalia, in partnership with the Government of Somalia, and in finding a long-term solution to this international crisis. The Philippines is doing its part to help Somalia. During the African Union Summit held in Tripoli on 31 August, President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo met with Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and offered the Philippines’ assistance in training and strengthening the capabilities of the Somali coast guard. As a result, the Philippines is pleased to report that a high-level Somali delegation led by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources will arrive in Manila this month of November to discuss the details of this capacity-building exercise. Somalia was also invited to join some 80 representatives from 26 countries participating in the capacity-building workshop on regional cooperation against piracy and armed robbery in Asia, held in Manila from 10 to 12 November. The Philippines has also made a financial contribution in support of the Somali security institutions. In conclusion, the Philippines hopes that the international community’s attention and efforts to address the clear and present danger of piracy off the coast of Somalia will not wane, but instead intensify with the goal of ending this scourge.

I call on the Permanent Representative of Seychelles.

I should like to thank you, Sir, for this opportunity to address the Security Council, the Secretary-General for his report (S/2009/590) and Special Representative Ahmedou Ould Abdallah for his briefing. Seychelles is by far the smallest and most vulnerable country to be directly impacted by the spillover of the instability in Somalia. By spillover I mean, of course, the piracy that, as the Secretary- General has pointed out in his report, continues to spread farther East and South into the Indian Ocean, in and around the waters of Seychelles and beyond. To us in Seychelles, the scourge of piracy is not just affecting the freedom of the seas, maritime trade, humanitarian aid or the security of international shipping. To Seychelles, piracy in the Indian Ocean is severely endangering our national security, territorial integrity and economic development, stability and viability. The greatest handicap Seychelles faces in combating piracy is that its 115 far-flung islands are sprinkled over an exclusive economic zone of 1.4 million square kilometres. This vast ocean territory is larger than France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg combined. Despite Seychelles having a population of just 85,000 and, consequently, very limited naval and military resources, the Government has had to stationed troops on our outlying islands to protect our territorial integrity and national security. We are drawing up new anti-piracy legislation and beefing up our coast guard and relevant investigative, prosecutorial, judicial and custodial institutions as best we can within our limited resources. While it is true we are receiving some help here from our bilateral and multilateral partners, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Maritime Organization, more is needed. This is because Seychelles is having to divert scarce funds from its economic and social development to defend the country against pirates. This is happening at a time when the country is quickly losing much-needed revenue and suffering escalating unforeseen costs because of the pirate attacks, while at the same time struggling through difficult but vital budget-cutting economic reforms in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund. For example, pirate attacks in and around Seychelles have slashed our revenue from fishing, the second most important pillar of our economy after tourism, by more than half. The tuna catch by fishing boats operating out of our capital Port Victoria has also tumbled by 50 per cent to the lowest figure since the 1980s. Several distant-water fishing vessels which were operating out of Port Victoria have left the Indian Ocean altogether. The number of boats seeking licences to fish in Seychelles’s exclusive economic zone is declining, and even our own domestic fishermen fear putting out to sea. We finally had to allow foreign boats to take troops or armed security guards on board to protect them while fishing. More than 80 per cent of what we consume is imported, mostly by sea. The cost of maritime insurance has shot up, and some cargo ships are now bypassing Seychelles and unloading goods destined for our islands in other ports. All this has helped push up prices and the cost of living. Some cruise ships have cancelled their cruises in and around Seychelles, and private yachting is on the decline. Sea travel to our most distant islands has to be done by convoy. Unable to effectively protect such a vast territory on our own, we have had to turn to our friends abroad for help. As a result, our population has watched with a mixed sense of anxiety and reassurance as Seychelles has fast become an increasingly important hub in the fight against piracy as it spreads farther and farther into the Indian Ocean. A signatory of the Djibouti Code of Conduct, Seychelles has also signed status of forces agreements and/or memorandums of understanding with the United States, the European Union, France, Britain and Belgium. Further agreements are being negotiated with NATO and the United Arab Emirates, and we have active military cooperation with India, Russia and other friendly countries. We have allowed the United States to station unmanned aerial vehicles or drones in Seychelles to supplement the multinational military surveillance aircraft flying from our islands to seek out pirates and alert naval forces and international shipping as to their whereabouts. Meanwhile, we await various kinds of assistance that have been promised to us to help boost our own contribution to the fight against piracy, and we would welcome more. In this regard, we welcome the establishment of an international trust fund by the Contact Group on piracy to complement the Djibouti Code of Conduct trust fund. The Seychelles Government would also support an arrangement whereby pirates convicted in other countries could serve their prison terms in Somalia. As the Council can see, Seychelles is both in the thick of it and on the front line, but not of our own choosing. We have no choice, as we are the only country in the Indian Ocean to be under siege from pirate attacks, not against us per se, but against anything they see moving in and around our waters. Despite the escalating international military build-up in the Indian Ocean, the biggest in any one region in recent times, we in Seychelles are under no illusion that the long-term solution to piracy in the region and to the security and economic problems it is causing our islands lies in addressing the root cause — the unrest in Somalia itself. The Seychelles Government therefore supports the Secretary-General’s call to strengthen the capabilities of the Somali Transitional Federal Government and of the African Union Mission in Somalia, to restore the rule of law, peace, security and progress to Somalia and, in doing so, to also help eradicate piracy from its shores. Peace will not return to the waters of the Indian Ocean, nor tranquillity to the paradise islands of Seychelles, until there is peace in Somalia. Until then, Seychelles will remain committed to and active in the fight against piracy in the region, but only as far as its resources allow.

I call on then representative of Spain.

My delegation, of course, endorses the statement made earlier in this debate by the representative of Sweden on behalf of the European Union. The incidents that continue to occur in the waters off Somalia demonstrate every day that piracy is not a problem of the past but constitutes a grave threat to international maritime navigation and legitimate fishing activities. Spain firmly condemns all acts of piracy and believes that it is necessary to join forces internationally to put an end to this scourge. The means used in the seizures off the coast of Somalia have evolved in recent times. The pirates undertake daring and highly organized operations, perpetrating their crimes at ever-increasing distances from the coast. It is therefore necessary to enhance means of protection so that the delivery of humanitarian aid, international navigation and commercial activities can be safe once again in those waters. As stated in the 13 November report of the Secretary-General (S/2009/590), introduced to the Council by the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Mr. Ould Abdallah, the coordination of the efforts of the international community and the Somali authorities will be crucial in order to successfully deter pirates and armed robbery in the region. Spain is one of the many States behind the European Union naval Operation Atalanta, a fine model for contribution to safety at sea, together with forces deployed by NATO and regional States and organizations. Through coordination of its own forces and those of third parties, the World Food Programme seeks to protect its vessels as they deliver humanitarian aid to Somalia. Secure maritime corridors have been established in the Gulf of Aden for the vessels of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and their provisions. As the Permanent Representative of Sweden noted earlier, the European Union has decided to extend Operation Atalanta to December 2010. Spain and the entire European Union believe that it would be important to receive a strengthened Security Council mandate in order to provide more effective coverage to the entire area under threat. One of the greatest challenges to be met is the rise in piracy that is affecting the security and economic development of the region as a whole. Much remains to be done, as shown by the high number of vessels and crews still being held by pirates, including Spanish vessels. The most recent incident was the capture of the fishing vessel Alakrana, which was fortunately freed yesterday. On behalf of the Government of Spain, I would like to express my thanks for the cooperation of the countries of the region in this fight, in particular Kenya, whose contribution is crucial to apprehending and trying the pirates. We would also like to thank the Republic of Seychelles for its cooperation. I would also like to emphasize the assistance of the African Union through AMISOM and of the troop-contributing countries, in particular Uganda and Burundi. Spain has played a full part in the work of the Security Council on that issue, together with other Member States with a particular interest in combating piracy. We have sponsored the various resolutions that have been adopted on the matter. We will therefore be pleased to co-sponsor a draft resolution allowing the Council to extend the mandate set out in the provisions of resolution 1846 (2008) and subsequent resolutions. The Government of Spain is aware that the deep- rooted causes of piracy in the waters off the coast of Somalia are to be found not at sea, but on land. Somalia continues to be beset by a cruel civil conflict that has cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of Somalis over decades of chaos and hostilities. According to the United Nations High Commissioner Office for Refugees, the number of internally displaced persons is approaching 1.5 million. Hence, the international community must strengthen its support for the Transitional Federal Government, the legitimate Government of Somalia. The Government of Spain, inter alia, participated actively in the donor conference for Somalia held in Brussels in April. On that occasion, Spain committed nearly €8 million, which has already been disbursed. Spain trusts that, with the resolute support of the international community, the Transitional Federal Government will be able to complete the reconciliation process under way and, pursuant to the Djibouti agreement, achieve progress on an inclusive national dialogue embracing the largest possible number of stakeholders from Somali society. We also believe it necessary to decisively address security sector reform and to work on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration projects. We need to define a comprehensive strategy for Somalia here at the United Nations, and it is therefore necessary to rely on the African Union, the European Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and other regional actors involved. The European Union is taking important steps to reinforce security through the preparation and future approval of a joint mission to train the security forces of the Transitional Federal Government. Spain is willing to play its part in that operation and, indeed, to lead it. That will mark our ongoing contribution to the Somali police via the African Union, now standing at $8 million. Spain, as President of the European Union as of January 2010, will lend all its support to ensuring that identification of a common strategy for Somalia remains at the fore of the international agenda. To that end, Spain intends to convene an international conference on Somalia in the first half of 2010, in coordination with the efforts of the international community in support of the Transitional Federal Government. We trust that the outcome of that international conference will be a political strategy that will make a decisive contribution to bringing peace, good governance and reconstruction to Somalia.

I now give the floor to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ould Abdallah, to respond to comments and questions. Mr. Ould Abdallah: At the outset, I would like to thank all those who have had such kind words of support for my Office and me and, in particular the Permanent Representatives of the United Kingdom and France, who I am meeting today for the first time. Everyone agrees that in order to address the issue of piracy, land security needs to exist. There is no dispute on that point. However, how do we achieve that goal? To do so, first of all, donors must, in my opinion, deliver financial and other assistance to the Somali Transitional Federal Government, as pledged in Brussels last April. The difference between pledges and effective delivery is stark. We have to deliver what has been promised. Secondly, it is vital that the salaries of police officers be paid. The police in Somalia have not been paid in 16 months. That is a fact, so there is little point in training more officers if we are not sure of being able to provide them with salaries, equipment and the means to make their living. If we cannot do that, they will take it from the streets. They will turn to extortion. I have to be honest with the Council — this is a problem. How can we train if we are not sure we can pay to equip? Thirdly, training without stipends will simply make them, as I said, more effective and violent on the street. We have to help the Government to be capable of delivering, to take responsibility vis-à-vis its population and to be able to be our partner. To be fair, the burden of providing security in Somalia, especially in Mogadishu, should not be left to AMISOM alone, and I mean to the troops from Uganda and Burundi. They are doing a great job under difficult circumstances. Pledges made in Brussels to support them should be fulfilled without delay. And we must acknowledge the role played in this regard by the African Union Commission and its Chair, Libya, with which my Office has an excellent working relationship. I offer many thanks for something new: countries that have initiated and put into effect a mechanism — not to analyze the crisis in Somalia, to say that it is bad or good and so on — but to pay effectively and to help. Working with an international auditing firm, they help with the mechanism. But very few countries — China, Libya, Norway and the United States of America — have contributed. They have contributed, not with analyses but by helping the Government to deliver. Other countries — Algeria, Djibouti, Kenya and Yemen — have contributed in their own way. That is how the Government has been able to resist armed and funded external aggression. I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage the millions in the Somali diaspora in Europe, America and Australia to do all they can to help bring peace and security to their country of origin, so that they can have a place that they would happily call home. Finally, in terms of the political situation and peace in Somalia, I would like to remind all those who advise — and they should advise, as advice is always important — that the Government is legal and legitimate and has, on its own, survived armed and foreign-supported aggression for two months. AMISOM has helped, I should add. It needs to be strengthened, and this is why I am grateful to the countries I mentioned earlier, which have provided immediate assistance, not only humanitarian, but with cash to pay police. That can strengthen the Government and help it continue the dialogue it is having with the opposition. The Secretary of State for Defence is from the opposition. Many members of the Government are from the opposition. We have to continue our work — as we did in Burundi, Liberia and everywhere else — implement the Djibouti agreement and call for new reconciliation. A new conference could weaken the Government and encourage the radicals and the business around them. By that, I mean piracy. Our problem is that many people are against peace. It prevents them from enjoying lucrative profits. So there is a need for more discussion among Somalis in Somalia, but the so-called panacea of international conferences held externally could do more harm than help. We must always operate first and foremost under the principle of “do no harm”. Reconciliation efforts should be done in Somalia. That is what is good for the country and good for the United Nations. I thank the presidency of the Council, as well as its embassy in Nairobi with which we work very closely, as we do with the Council here.

There are no further speakers inscribed on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.