S/PV.6301 Security Council

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/2010/206, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by the Russian Federation. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. Unless I hear any objection, I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. There being no objection, it is so decided.

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 1918 (2010). I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the voting.

I should like to express our gratitude to the members of the Council for their support of resolution 1918 (2010), which was submitted by the Russian Federation. We are grateful to our colleagues for the constructive approach and valuable ideas that made it possible to give momentum to this important anti- piracy initiative. In our view, the resolution adopted today is of particular importance amid the growing threat posed by piracy off the coast of Somalia and in more distant regions of the Indian Ocean. Today, the Security Council has sent an important political message: that the international community is determined to combat impunity and intends to continue seeking additional mechanisms to enhance the effectiveness of the prosecution of those who carry out, plan and conduct acts of piracy.

Uganda voted in favour of resolution 1918 (2010), on piracy in Somalia and welcomes its adoption by the Council. Piracy is an international problem that poses challenges to all countries. Therefore, combating piracy requires collective efforts and the contribution of all countries. Uganda would like to emphasize that a more effective and comprehensive approach to combating piracy off the coast of Somalia would be to address its root causes, especially the instability in mainland Somalia. That will require greater support for the Transitional Federal Government and building the capacity of its institutions so that the Somali people can take full responsibility for their own country and their own destiny.

The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.