Over 50 countries to attend counter-piracy meet in Dubai on Monday

The threat of piracy and collaborative means to eradicate it will be discussed during this conference.

Government and industry leaders representing over 50 countries will meet here on Monday to seek solutions to the serious humanitarian and economic issue of piracy.

The widespread threat of piracy and collaborative means to eradicate it will be discussed during this first high-level public-private counter piracy conference.

Co-convened by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and global marine terminal operator DP World,Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan,UAE’s Foreign Minister and Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem,Chairman,DP World,will inaugurate the two-day conference.

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It brings together officials and industry leaders more than 50 countries for high level deliberations,a DP World statement said on Saturday.

Under the theme ‘Global Challenge,Regional Responses: Forging A Common Approach to Maritime Piracy’,the summit will be attended by more than 30 foreign ministers,senior representatives from a further 25 countries,the United Nations,the International Maritime Organisation,industry leaders and experts on maritime security and community development issues.

According to the International Maritime Bureau,as of April 14,2011 and despite a heightened level of international response,there were at least 107 incidents of attacks or attempted attacks on commercial cargo ships in the Gulf of Aden,Arabian Sea and off the east African coast — with 17 vessels hijacked.

At least 26 ships are currently under pirate control,together with 532 mariners held captive,many in appalling conditions.

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During the conference,both public and private initiatives to counter the effects of piracy on the captives and their families and communities as well as the threat it poses to peace and security internationally will be discussed,with the aim of introducing initiatives that merge the efforts of both sectors in areas of community development,security,and information sharing.

Panel discussions will also tackle root causes of piracy,relevant international law issues,and opportunities of furthering civilian-military cooperation to ward off attacks.

On the sidelines of the conference,the UAE and the United Nations will hold a fund-raising session in support of the UN’s Trust Fund to Support Initiatives of States Countering Piracy off the Coast of Somalia.

The aim of the fundraiser is to attract new and traditional donors to the Fund,which was established in January 2010 by the UN Secretary-General at the request of the international Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia.

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The Trust Fund has launched a number of land-based counter piracy initiatives established and supported by both public and private sectors.

The conference is also expected to conclude with a declaration outlining areas of cooperation between the private and public sectors with the aim of establishing a working frame to further advance cooperation in various counter piracy initiatives as well as propose others.