UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: The UAE is hosting the third international counter-piracy conference to tackle Somalia's most pressing problems, including piracy, the economy and poverty
Record ID:
838500
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: The UAE is hosting the third international counter-piracy conference to tackle Somalia's most pressing problems, including piracy, the economy and poverty
- Title: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: The UAE is hosting the third international counter-piracy conference to tackle Somalia's most pressing problems, including piracy, the economy and poverty
- Date: 12th September 2013
- Summary: DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (SEPTEMBER 11, 2013) (REUTERS) DELEGATES SEATED IN AUDITORIUM IN FRONT OF SCREEN SCREEN WITH WRITING READING (Arabic/English): "COUNTERING MARITIME PIRACY: CONTINUED EFFORTS FOR REGIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING" DELEGATES WALKING INTO AUDITORIUM SEATED DELEGATE READING "COUNTERING MARITIME PIRACY" BOOKLET VARIOUS OF DELEGATES SITTING IN AUDITORIUM UAE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN ZAYED AL- NAHYAN, TAKING HIS SEAT/GREETING SOMEONE DELEGATES CLAPPING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UAE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN ZAYED AL-NAHYAN, SAYING: "The UAE is ready to provide support and assistance to the people of Somalia, which will contribute to providing the best projects. But the best ways to combat piracy - which is the title of this conference - we cannot combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean without improving the objective conditions and circumstances on land in the State of Somalia." DELEGATES SEATED LISTENING TO SPEAKER DELEGATES SEATED IN AUDITORIUM /SCREEN SHOWING SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN ZAYED AL NAHYAN MAKING SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UAE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN ZAYED AL-NAHYAN, SAYING: "The UAE stands ready to provide support for Somalia to contribute to the development of the economy and the development of the social situation. Last year, the total development assistance from the United Arab of Emirates to Somalia reached $22 million." DELEGATES STANDING/CLAPPING AS SPEAKER TAKES PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF SOMALIA, HASSAN SHEIKH MOHAMUD, SAYING: "A sustained solution to ending piracy will only come with the creation of a viable Somali state [with] institutions that can deliver essential services throughout the entire country to reduce poverty and create opportunity for better life." DELEGATES WALKING THROUGH CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF SOMALIA, HASSAN SHEIKH MOHAMUD, SAYING: "There are a lot of discussions going between Somalia and China for the reconstruction of Somalia and we are very much hopeful that China will be implementing a huge infrastructure - economic infrastructure project - in Somalia as it did in other parts of Africa." DELEGATES TALKING/DRINKING COFFEE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOROCCAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SAADEDDINE OTHMANI, SAYING: "In the field of agriculture, in the field of water management, and in the field of fishing, a group of technicians and a group of specialists work together to provide support in all of these sectors. This is what we consider our core contribution [in Somalia] to be." VARIOUS OF DELEGATES TALKING
- Embargoed: 27th September 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Arab Emirates
- City:
- Country: United Arab Emirates
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVADT9C2BEC72DHITQIUUJPJUE7G
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Piracy in the waters around Somalia cannot be resolved without tackling the African country's internal problems, delegates at a counter-piracy conference in Dubai were told on Wednesday (September 11).
The conference, now in its third year, is focusing on rebuilding Somalia as a way of addressing the root causes of piracy.
After almost two decades of civil war, Somalia, which has 1,880-mile coastline and is near major shipping routes connecting the Red Sea with the Indian Ocean, became a hub for pirates attacking shipping vessels and taking seafarers ransom with several dozen cases reported in 2006 alone.
Since the first reported hijacking in 2005, more than 145 ships have been seized, raising total ransoms of $315 million - $385 million.
In 2009 a multinational Combined Task Force was established in the Gulf of Aden and the number of piracy cases has significantly dropped in recent years.
But while the first two counter-piracy conferences dealt with the immediate threat of piracy, efforts are now being focused on investing in long-term solutions for Somalia.
"The UAE is ready to provide support and assistance to the people of Somalia, which will contribute to providing the best projects. But the best ways to combat piracy - which is the title of this conference - we cannot combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean without improving the objective conditions and circumstances on land in the State of Somalia," said the UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah al-Nahyan.
Earlier this year, the UAE pledged $50 million in aid to the small East African state at a Somalia conference held in London, where the international community was called upon to contribute to the war-torn country's reconstruction.
In Dubai, al-Nahyan said his country was ready to contribute even more assistance over the coming years.
"The UAE stands ready to provide support for Somalia to contribute to the development of the economy and the development of the social situation. Last year, the total development assistance from the United Arab of Emirates to Somalia reached $22 million," said al-Nahyan.
Somalia's president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has only been in office for a year, but said he was keen to address the endemic problems facing his country.
"A sustained solution to ending piracy will only come with the creation of a viable Somali state [with] institutions that can deliver essential services throughout the entire country to reduce poverty and create opportunity for better life," said the president in his keynote address.
Somalia has enjoyed relative calm after military offensives by African Union (AMISOM) peacekeepers and Ethiopian troops moved into the country last year to help fight the al Qaeda-linked militants al Shabaab.
The relative stability has brought new hope of much-needed foreign investment in the country.
"There are a lot of discussions going between Somalia and China for the reconstruction of Somalia and we are very much hopeful that China will be implementing a huge infrastructure - economic infrastructure project - in Somalia as it did in other parts of Africa," said Mohamud in an interview on the sidelines of the conference.
Morocco's foreign minister, who also attended the conference, said Rabat was also keen to provide expertise to help rehabilitate Somalia.
"In the field of agriculture, in the field of water management, and in the field of fishing, a group of technicians and a group of specialists work together to provide support in all of these sectors. This is what we consider our core contribution [in Somalia] to be," said Saadeddine Othmani.
According to a report by Oceans Beyond Piracy, the direct costs of combating piracy were $6 billion in 2012 alone, namely through increased armed security on vessels.
Although the number of attacks has fallen markedly since 2011, thanks to tougher security aboard ships and increased Western naval patrols, piracy emanating from the Horn of Africa nation may still cost the world economy about $18 billion a year, the World Bank said in April. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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