(Dubai) – ‘Much has been done to tackle the problems caused by maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia, but more needs to done to build the capacity of Somalia and its neighbours to control their own shores and patrol their own waters’, said UAE Foreign Minister, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
In a statement issued ahead of a two-day international conference on counter piracy, organised by the UAE Foreign Ministry in partnership with local port operators, which opens in Dubai, Sheikh Abdullah said maritime piracy remained a threat to regional security and global commerce.
“Building on the success of two previous conferences, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with its conference partners, DP World and Abu Dhabi Ports Company, has again convened this high-level initiative on countering piracy,” said Sheikh Abdullah.
Sheikh Abdullah added that this year, the focus is on regional capacity-building in order to allow countries in the region to control their own shores and patrol their own waters. Improving the capacity of the navies and coast guards of Somalia and its neighbours will not only substantially diminish pirate attacks, it will also help the region in facing other challenges, such as illegal fishing and human trafficking.
