Security Council and Ban call for naval and air action against Somali pirates

7 October 2008 – The Security Council and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called today for more international air and naval forces off the pirate-ridden coast of Somalia to ensure that United Nations food aid gets through to more than 3 million people threatened with starvation.
In a resolution adopted unanimously, the Council called on States with naval vessels and military aircraft operating off the Somali coast to use “the necessary means” against acts of piracy, while Mr. Ban warned that more Somalis will die unless countries provide the forces needed to ensure that the UN World Food Programme (WFP) can deliver its aid.
“In Somalia, 3 million people are in danger of starving,” Mr. Ban said in introductory remarks to a news conference at UN Headquarters in New York. “Nearly 90 per cent of the food that feeds them arrives from the sea aboard WFP ships. more..http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=28460&Cr=SOMALIA&Cr1

Security Council: The situation in Somalia. - UN

Comments to the Media by the Permanent Representative of France, H.E. Mr. Jean-Maurice Ripert, on the situation in Somalia and Kosovoes

Kenya calls for use of force on Somali pirates

Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang'ula has called for the use of force to secure the arms seized by Somalia pirates a fortnight ago.
His remarks echo a United Nations Security Council resolution that directs naval vessels and military aircraft to use “all necessary means” to stamp out piracy.
Mr Wetang'ula said the Kenya Government will now fight the pirates “anywhere and everywhere” to keep the high seas safe.
The resolution only applies to pirates off Somalia, whose 1,880-mile coastline is the longest in Africa and near key shipping routes that connect the Indian Ocean with the Red Sea more.. http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/478324/-/tkxxdw/-/index.html

S. KOREA MAY SEND DESTROYER TO COMBAT SOMALI PIRATES

SEOUL, Oct. 7 Asia Pulse - South Korea is considering dispatching a navy ship to waters off Somalia in a bid to protect its fishing and cargo ships from piracy, Seoul's top diplomat said Tuesday. "There are (ongoing) consultations (among related ministries) on the issue of dispatching a navy ship," Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan told lawmakers during an inspection of his ministry. He did not provide further details. The move comes as eight South Koreans remain in captivity after their freighter was seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia last month. Thirteen sailors from Myanmar aboard the ship were also abducted. Asked about efforts to rescue them, the minister said, "Negotiations are under way and we expect the case to be resolved before long." The abductions in pirate-infested Somali waters prompted the government authorities to hold an emergency meeting to discuss ways of preventing the recurrence of such an incident. One proposed idea was to send a navy ship, possibly one of the Yi Sun-shin class destroyers commissioned in 2003, according to a source. A resolution adopted by the U.N. Security Council in early June authorized countries to enter Somalia's territorial waters for a period of six months with advance notice and use "all necessary means" to stop piracy.
Ships operating in Somali waters often fall prey to pirates. More than 25 cases of ship kidnappings were reported there last year alone. A South Korean tuna ship with 25 crew was hijacked by Somali pirates in April 2006. The vessel and its crew were released for a ransom after four months. In 2007, two South Korean fishing vessels were seized by Somali pirates. The crew was released after six months in captivity.
(Yonhap)