New York - The UN Security Council on Tuesday authorized for
the first time foreign navies and aircraft operating off Somalia's
coast to use force to stop the continuing bold seizures of ships by
pirates.
Some of the ships were carrying humanitarian supplies donated by
governments under UN relief programmes to assist the estimated 3.5
million Somalians who continue to depend on international food aid.
The 15-nation council unanimously adopted a resolution submitted
by France, the current European Union president, allowing states
whose 'naval vessels and military aircraft operate on the high seas
and airspace off the coast of Somalia to use the necessary means ...
for the repression of acts of piracy.'
It called on those states to cooperate with the transitional
government in Mogadishu in the fight against piracy and armed
robbery.
It also called on those states to respect the Convention on the
Law of the Sea, which sets territorial limits to all countries.
Somalia's 3,025-kilometre coastline has been known as one of the
world's most dangerous because of the country's decades of
lawlessness, civil wars and a total lack of governance.
French Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert said the EU in Brussels
plans to send a mission to Somalia to discuss what the European bloc
can do to stop piracy. Ripert said pirates are killing Somalians on a
daily basis.
Naval vessels from Canada, France, the Netherlands and Denmark
have been providing escort to ships carrying relief supplies for
Somalia. But Canada said it will terminate its tour of duty on
October 23 and the UN is asking another government to replace that
country.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday the EU and other
nations are discussing a replacement for Canada.
'Without escorts, those ships will not arrive,' he said. 'Without
that aid, more people will die.'
Somali pirates last month seized a Ukrainian freighter loaded with
weapons and tanks reportedly destined for either Kenya or Sudan. The
pirates were not aware of the shipments until they captured it and
demanded a ransom of up to 30 million dollars for the unexpected
booty.
US naval vessels have been monitoring the freighter to prevent the
pirates from unloading the military equipment.
The pirates in the past year have seized several ships, including
luxury yachts and tourist vessels, and tried to cash in on their
owners.
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