Coordinated Effort Needed Against Piracy

Coordinated Effort Needed Against Piracy, Tanzania Urges At UN Debate

New York, Sep 27 2010 12:10PM

Tanzania’s Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda today "http://gadebate.un.org/View/SpeechView/tabid/85/smid/411/ArticleID/217/reftab/233/t/United-Republic-of-Tanzania/Default.aspx" told the General Assembly that a coordinated response is required to tackle piracy off the coast of Somalia, stressing the need for the international community to work more closely with countries in the region to combat the menace.

“A coordinated, coherent, comprehensive and integrated response which includes political, military, financial and legal support is needed,” Mr. Pinda said, adding that the United Nations and the wider international community should work closely with the African Union and Eastern Africa’s Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on a joint strategy to combat piracy in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.

“In the United Republic of Tanzania, we have recently amended the criminal code to allow our courts to prosecute suspected pirates under universal jurisdiction,” Mr. Pinda said.

He urged the international community to help strengthen the criminal justice systems of countries around the region where piracy is rampant to enable them to effectively prosecute apprehended piracy suspects.

“The international community must also accept to share with affected States post prosecution custodial responsibilities,” he added.

Mr. Pinda said Tanzania has offered to train 1,000 soldiers from Somalia because of its firm belief that the task of restoring peace and security in Somalia lay primarily with the people of that country.

ENDS

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