04.17.10
Seychelles needs help in fighting against piracy
On April 16, a high-level meeting on piracy was held in Seychelles. Among the issues discussed at the event was the necessity of stronger support for the country in the international fight against piracy.
At the event, the chairman of the high-level committee on piracy, Joël Morgan, met with the chairman of the working group II of contact group on piracy off the coast of Somalia, ambassador Thomas Winkler, and representative of the UNODC. Also, the meeting was attended by British high commissioner Mathew Forbes and French ambassador Philippe Delacroix.
Much attention was paid to discussing the positioning in the jurisdiction of people to support the criminal justice system in order to coordinate the material, human resources and financial support mechanisms that the country is to benefit from within the context of its anti-piracy activities. Also, the minister was talking about the upcoming working group II meeting in Copenhagen (Denmark) where legal issues of transfer arrangements of convicted pirates back to Somalia will be discussed. He said that there is an urgent need for the prisons in Somalia to hold convicted pirates. Also, according to the policy of government, the Somali authorities must take responsibility for the actions of their citizens convicted of piracy.
Ambassador welcomed Seychelles’ new anti-piracy legislation. Also, he expressed the appreciation of the active role the jurisdiction has taken to counter piracy and to bring pirates to justice. Winkler also expressed his support for the Seychelles’ position against piracy internationally.