19.11.2009
Source:
European Union decided to prolong mandate of Atalanta anti-piracy naval operation, said Wednesday Swedish Ambassador to the UN Anders Liden on behalf of EU at UN Security Council session.
Operation
Atalanta launched in 2008 was the first collective action against piracy in the Gulf of Aden and west Indian Ocean where Somali pirates are most active. Navies of different countries closely cooperate with
Atalanta task forces, including warships of Russian Navy.
"Through
Atalanta operation European Union contributes to safety of navigation in that region and decided to prolong mandate of the operation till the end of 2010", said representative of Sweden which chairs EU at present.
Since December 2008 as a result of EU naval operation 50 vessels with 300,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid cargo were successfully escorted; that was World Food Program aid sent to Somali people.
Russia will continue participating in collective anti-piracy actions near Somali coast, said Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin at the same UNSC session on Wednesday. Since Oct 2008 it has been third Russian Navy's task unit currently deployed at the region, he reminded.
According to recent report of UN Secretary General about piracy issue near Somali which was published before and considered at Wednesday's session, 306 pirate assaults were recorded worldwide in 2008; 136 of them happened near East Africa. Since Jan 1 till Sept 30, 2009 there have been about 300 messages of pirate attacks over the world, 160 of them occurred at East Africa region.
