On the New Resolution of the UN Security Council on Fighting Piracy in the Somalia Area

PRESS RELEASE

A UN Security Council meeting at foreign ministers level on December 16 unanimously adopted resolution 1851 (2008) on fighting piracy in the Somalia area.

The adoption of the fourth UNSC resolution on this issue was necessitated by the fact that the wave of piracy in the waters off Somalia is not abating.

The new resolution is based on the provisions of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and other universal treaties aimed at protecting the interests of international navigation, and on the request to the UN from the President of Somalia.

The resolution provides for a number of resolute steps to counter piracy. First of all, states cooperating with Somalia (among them Russia) have received the right to undertake all necessary measures to suppress pirate activities not only in the territorial sea, but also on the land territory and in the airspace of Somalia, The destruction of pirates' ground infrastructure thus becomes possible.

It was decided to establish a mechanism for the close coordination of actions by states and international organizations conducting anti-piracy operations and create a regional center to exchange information and assist coastal states in the effective use of their national legal institutions for these purposes.

There is also provision by which warships of states cooperating with Somalia may embark law enforcement officers – shipriders – from the countries of the region to investigate persons captured for pirate activities, which must subsequently facilitate the conduct of legal proceedings.

Overall, the Security Council has again demonstrated that it continues to play the chief role in questions of international cooperation and coordination of efforts by different states in the fight against piracy.

The Russian Federation, for which the issues of safety of navigation and the protection of the lives of its citizens who are ship crew members have a great significance, took the most active part in the elaboration of resolution 1851. We intend to continue actively to work toward this end with all interested states. As to the Russian naval presence in this region, now successfully ensured by the Neustrashimy frigate, it is planned to be continued.

Piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia are the tip of the iceberg of the problems with which that state is faced at present. We expect that destroying the material base of piracy in the region will contribute to the overall stabilization of the situation in Somalia and constitute a first step in restoring normal conditions of life in that country.

December 17, 2008