EU-Gulf agreement to crack down on piracy

The EU and Gulf states have agreed to work together to help tackle the problem of piracy off the Somalia coast.

At a meeting in Muscat, the Omani capital, both sides issued a joint statement condemning the recent upsurge in such incidents.

Speaking at a news conference after the meeting, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the EU’s external affairs commissioner, said the EU and Gulf cooperation council (GCC) would encourage states to cooperate with each other, the international maritime organisation and other bodies to combat maritime piracy in the region.

The Austrian official was in Muscat to attend the 19th GCC-EU joint council and ministerial meeting.

Also present were Czech foreign minister Karel Schwarzenberg and Yousuf Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah, foreign minister of Oman.

The southern Omani port of Salalah has seen an influx of ships docking there in recent weeks, which have been attacked by Somali pirates.

An Omani official said, "Although no Omani ships have been affected, we are just up the coast from where all this is currently happening so, yes, there is concern."

Bas Hokke, a Dutchman who is the chief operating officer of the Port of Salalah, said that the issue of piracy is exercising many minds at the port.

 “The American hostage Richard Phillips who was held hostage was a regular visitor here.”

Due to its location on the shipping route between Asia, the Suez Canal and Europe, Salalah, he explains, functions as the distribution centre for the worldwide container flow.

The port also functions as a hiding place in this turbulent area. Navy vessels moor in the port while the crew of released ships take some time to recover in Salalah before returning home.

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