Anti-piracy meeting starts today in Seychelles |31 May 2016
Delegates to chart the way forward
Hundreds of delegates from around the globe are joining with local stakeholders todayat the International Conference Centre to deliberate on actions to date of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS), and to agree on the way forward for the coming year.
Delegates from the United States of America, France, People’s Republic of China, India, Pakistan, Mozambique, the UAE, Mauritius, Madagascar, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the United Kingdom, Greece, Australia, Japan, Norway, Germany, Somali regional states such as Somaliland, Galmudug, Puntland, Jubbaland, join with Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, Denmark, Marshall Islands, Russia, Korea, Thailand, Spain, Oman, Portugal, Kenya, Philippines, Italy, Egypt and representatives from the AU, UN, NATO, EUNAVFOR, FAO, IMO, COI, IGAD, EUCAPNESTOR, EAC, UNODC, CMF, Danish Ship owners Association, Industry and Seafarers Association, Norwegian Ship Owners Association, Oceans Beyond Piracy, COMESA, East African Stand By Force, INTERPOL, Cardiff University, BIMCO, CRIMARIO, as they ready themselves to discuss and to deliver results over the next few days at the 19th Plenary of the CGPCS, which is scheduled to run until June 3, 2016.
Citing conflicting schedules, however, a number of contact group members have expressed regrets at being unable to attend, while the secretary general of the African Ship-Owners Association, FunmiFolorunso, invited as an observer, sent a letter of support asking the assembled delegates to stay focused on eliminating piracy fully even as Africa works to improve upon its maritime capabilities in support of the African Maritime Transport Charter.
In port as a sign of solidarity for the CGPCS 19th Plenary are naval ships from Australia and Germany, the HMAS Darwin and FGS Bayern, respectively.
The voluntary group, operating under a United Nations Security Resolution, is at this time chaired by the Seychelles, assuming the chairmanship on January 1, 2016 and with a mandate of one year.
It should be noted that at a meeting of the UN Security Council on November 10, 2015 the council reported when again renewing anti piracy initiatives: “The Security Council this morning renewed the measures granted to States and regional organisations cooperating with authorities in Somalia in the fight against piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of that country for a further period of 12 months.
Unanimously adopting resolution 2446 (2015) and acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, the Council noted improvements in Somalia, but recognised that piracy exacerbated instability in Somalia by introducing large amounts of illicit cash that had fuelled additional crime and corruption. By the text, the Council stressed the need for the international community to take a comprehensive response to prevent and suppress piracy and tackle its underlying causes.”
Seychelles was nominated to lead the CGPCS Presidency at the 18th Plenary of the CGPCS, in July 2015, at a meeting held at the United Nations in New York City. In September 2015, the EU handed over the responsibility of the CGPCS Secretariat to the Seychelles following a two-week briefing, with meetings held at the REFLECS3 centre here in the Seychelles. Seychelles assumed the presidency from the European Union and has to date successfully chaired the contact group.
The CGPCS agreed to hold its 19th Plenary here in the Seychelles following an invitation to do so by Minister Joel Morgan, this at the 1st Strategy Meeting of the CGPCS held and hosted by the government of India, in Mumbai, India, in February this year.
Over the next few days for this 19th Plenary, delegates will move to approve and adopt an agenda which once accepted will be a guide for the CGPCS for the remainder of the year. It is certain that as delegates discuss achievements to date, continued resource building in the region, how best to continue engaging the region through capacity building; delegates will certainly consider the ‘what next’ of the CGPCS as piracy as a regional threat continues to subside, and as they agree to continue driving progress in the Western Indian Ocean by a regional state as chair.
It is understood that all 26 former Seychellois hostages have been invited to this plenary following a special invitation by the chairman of the CGPCS, Minister Morgan. The plenary will beofficially opened by the Vice-President of Seychelles, Danny Faure. The deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Mohamed Omar Arte, is expected to speak as well at the plenary.
According to the EUNAVFOR, there are still 26 foreign nationals being held at various locations within Somalia by pirate gangs. The CGPCS has as an objective,to bring acts of piracy down to zero, and is as well working to have zero hostages held. With zero successful pirate attacks of late, that part of the CGPCS objective has been met. Work however remains to have all hostages home safely to their families.
The people of Seychelles now await the outcome and future moves of the CGPCS as its own future, its promotion of the Blue Economy, and continued positive economic growth in both the fisheries sector and that of tourism, is certainly linked to a peaceful and stable Indian Ocean.