Spain to dispatch two warships for countering piracy

11.06.2010 Spain intends to dispatch two more warships to the Somali coast for participation in EU Operation Atalanta, reported Spanish media referring to defense minister Carme Chacon.

As explained by the minister appeared Thursday at the anti-piracy seminar in Brussels, the question is patrol ship and attack landing ship Galicia which will join Spanish naval force deployed in the region within Sept 1- Nov 10.

Spain actively participates in Operation Atalanta. At present, Spanish frigate Victoria with 220 servicemen on board, and reconnaissance aircraft P3-Orion with about 80 men maintenance team are deployed in Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.

Landing platform dock ship Galicia is equipped with four helicopters and four cutters capable to monitor coastline zone. As for Chacon, patrolling of Somali coast where pirate bases and boats are located could contribute to reducing number of attacks at fishing ships in the region.

According to Spanish defense ministry, pirates presently hold 17 vessels and over 400 people. Along with that, since the beginning of 2010 number of vessel seizures has considerably decreased. During the last 4 months international anti-piracy force managed to disarm 50 pirate groups in the high seas and to detain or neutralize 117 boats.

Somalia can not find the answer to the piracy problem because this country ceased to exist as united state in 1991 with falling of Siad Barre dictatorship governed the country since late 60's. Currently, international community recognizes Federal Government of Somalia as the only lawful authority in the country; however, the named government controls only a part of capital city, Mogadishu. The rest parts of Somalia are either under control of unrecognized state formations or self-governed territories which leaders have different views on integration.

Apart from the EU, the naval coalition from 16 countries and NATO warships are also deployed in the Gulf of Aden where pirates are most active. Russian warships are also deployed in the region carrying out patrols and escorting merchant ships.