Statement from the G8 Summit. Piracy to be Addressed through Coordinated Efforts by International Community

We agreed that, because of the destabilizing factors behind it and the broad regional and international impacts entailed, piracy must be addressed through coordinated efforts by the international community.

Counter-piracy activities should be carried out in the context of a strategic and comprehensive international undertaking to build and promote maritime security in and around the Horn of Africa and the African continent more broadly, while we protect maritime shipping and take active measures to prevent acts of violence at sea and piracy. We recognize the critical role of maritime security for delivering international assistance, trade, development and regional stability.

We support international initiatives undertaken to that end, to which G8 members are already contributing, including those aimed at ensuring the development of adequate legal frameworks to fight piracy and other maritime-related crimes, and at attracting resources, commitment and action to build the capacity of regional states to better control their coasts and territorial waters, contribute to maritime security, as well as to judge and detain the pirates. We commended the leadership role of Kenya in the prosecution and detention of pirates. We intend as well to improve coordination and cooperation with industry to ensure best security measures and practices are in effect to prevent these acts.

Fighting piracy requires both near-term countermeasures and longer-term assistance and structural interventions to target its root causes. While we stand committed to reinforcing the success of international counter-piracy patrolling missions, we recognize that a sustainable solution to piracy will also require strengthening rule of law and law enforcement capacities in Somalia and the region, as well as helping those countries meet other challenges such as poverty and ongoing conflicts. This includes urgently addressing: the lack of basic security and fragility of state authority in Somalia; port security improvements; trafficking in drugs, arms and persons; illegal dumping and illegal fishing. We confirm that vessels entitled to fly the flag of any G8 member are required to respect the legal regime in Somali waters, and commit to fulfil our international legal obligations in this respect.

We commit to contributing, through cooperation with international partners and coordinated bilateral programs, to achieve the goals defined by the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia – and related multilateral efforts, including the Djibouti Code of Conduct facilitated by the International Maritime Organization – and the International Contact Group for Somalia.

Source:Ecoterra, July 10, 2009

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