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Yemen affirms readiness to cooperate in combating piracy
RIYADH, June 29 (Saba) - Yemen affirmed on Monday its readiness to cooperate with the Arab countries overlooking the Red Sea and Aden Gulf for combating piracy and organized crime.
This came in Yemen's speech delivered by Head of Yemeni Coastguard Authority Ali Rase'a in the joint meeting of Navy Leaders and Foreign Ministries' experts of the Arab countries overlooking the Red Sea and the states of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh
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Rase'a stressed that Yemen is ready to offer all facilities for Arab ships to take part in combating piracy as well as exchanging information and conducting joint exercises within the security agreements.
Since five years, as the Somali piracy has soared in Gulf of Aden, Yemen has called on the countries overlooking Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea to play a positive role in fighting against piracy, Rase'a said.
"We believe in that if our countries unite their efforts and potentials, they will be able more than others to play more effective roles in combating not only piracy but also the illegal migration and smuggling drugs", he said.
Rase'a pointed out that such problems do not negatively affect only a certain country but all the region's countries. A country, whatever its potentials, can not encounter piracy alone. Western countries realized that and formed a coalition to combat such phenomenon.
In his speech, Rase'a reviewed Yemen's efforts in combating piracy, saying "Believing in the importance of marine security, Yemen established before six years a coastguard authority as a specialized security unit in addition to several monitoring centres will be operated by the end of 2009."
The priority was given to Aden Gulf and Bab al-Mandab areas due to they are closer to Africa and because of their importance for the international navigation routs.
Rase'a urged the participants on availing from the European Union's experience in combating piracy, illegal migration and drugs smuggling.
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