Plan aims to increase pressure at political level to secure
the release of all hostages being held by SOMALI pirates
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) launched a new action plan against piracy on Thursday amid concerns that the seizing of ships by Somali pirates was outstripping international efforts to stop them.
The plan aims to increase pressure at political level to secure the release of all hostages being held by pirates and promote greater coordination between navies.
"Piracy seems to be outpacing the efforts of the international community to stem it," United Nations general secretary Ban Ki- moon said in a speech at the launch of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) initiative.
He said that the UN. will continue to back the international efforts to tackle the problem throughout 2011.
IMO secretary general Efthimios Mitropoulos said at the IMO conference that the cooperation of states and industries affected had resulted in a series of measures that had "significantly reduced" piracy in Somali coasts and Gulf of Aden.
However piracy had become a problem again in these areas.
At a press conference at the headquarters of the IMO in London, Ban said:
"The situation off the coast of Somalia is completely unacceptable.
"Piracy and hostage taking are distorting the Somali economy and disrupting shipping lanes that are vital to people around the world."
"The United Nations will continue to support Somalis in their effort to fight piracy, and more generally to provide effective governance and basic services," he said.
He added that since Somalia was "a very weak government, we need to support them" to increase the rule of law in the country.
In the past 12 months, there have been 286 piracy-related incidents off the coast of Somalia, according to IMO statistics.
As a result, 67 ships have been hijacked, with 714 seafarers currently held hostage on board 30 ships which are scattered along the Somali coast.
Source: Xinhua
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