Serdiukov: Russia negotiates with NATO, EU, and the US on anti-piracy

24.05.2010 At present, Russia negotiates with NATO, EU, and the US on development of legal base urgent to counter piracy near Horn of Africa, said Russian defense minister Anatoly Serdiukov after bilateral talks held in Rome between Russian and Italian defense and foreign ministers.

"Counter-piracy is more a legal problem than an organizational one. So far, there have been neither legal anti-piracy tools nor international courts and jails. We're currently working on that with NATO, European Union, and the U.S. We're addressing the issues of joint patrols and exchange of information related to piracy", said Serdiukov.

The need to develop anti-piracy legal base was demonstrated by the incident with tanker Moscow University. Liberian-flagged tanker with 23 Russian sailors on board was hijacked on May 5 in the eastern part of the Gulf of Aden. The ship was carrying oil from the Red Sea to China. In the morning May 6 the tanker was freed by Russian warship Marshal Shaposhnikov. Ten pirates were arrested and one was killed. However, due to incomplete legislation Russian mariners had to let pirates off.

According to the defense minister, anti-piracy patrols and convoy escorting is quite expensive affair to keep watch there alone. "Russian and other navies conduct patrols for free. When a convoy is formed, all civil vessels in the region join it", stated the minister.

The capture of Moscow University proved that the risky zone has been significantly expanded, pointed out Serdiukov. The tanker was attacked hundreds miles off shore after passing of dangerous zone within a convoy.

Serdiukov added that Russian warships were deployed in the Gulf of Aden on a permanent basis, although there were no plans to enlarge the task force.

"There are more than enough Russian warships in the region", underlined the minister.