The UN Security Council on Tuesday urged states to commit naval and air assets to the fight against rampant piracy off lawless Somalia, with France saying this meant that force can be used against the pirates.
The 15-member Council unanimously adopted the resolution under Chapter Seven of the UN Charter, which is invoked in cases of threats to international peace and security.
Resolution 1838 “calls upon all states interested in the security of maritime activities to take part actively in the fight against piracy on the high seas off the coast of Somalia, in particular by deploying naval vessels and military aircraft.”
The French-drafted text urges states with naval vessels and military aircraft operating on the high seas and airspace off the Somali coast “to use the necessary means, in conformity with international law ... for the repression of acts of piracy.”
French UN Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert immediately welcomed the unanimous adoption of the text, saying it sends “a clear signal to the pirates.”
“It states very clearly that you can use force against the pirates,” he said, pointing out that EU nations were preparing to launch an anti-piracy security operation off Somalia before the end of the year.
South African Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo urged the council not to lose sight of the bigger picture in Somalia, referring to the unresolved civil war.
“The issue in Somalia is the conflict. Until you address the issue inside Somalia you will always have piracy,” he told reporters.
Meanwhile, a deal could be near with the Somali pirates holding a Ukrainian ship with tanks and other weaponry on board for ransom.
An onshore associate the pirates said on yesterday that an US$8 million ransom deal was in the offing under which the boat would be freed in the next few days.
“A boat will carry the money from Djibouti and pirates are expected to release the ship in the coming two nights,” said the man, who identified himself as Farah, and who has given reliable data in the past about pirate activities.
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