Lavrov calls on ASEM to set up anti-piracy tribunal.

BRUSSELS, October 5 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov called on Tuesday on ASEM partners to abandon double standards in
efforts to counter terrorism, drug trafficking and suggested establishing
an anti-piracy tribunal.
"Concerted efforts on countering terrorism, illicit drug trafficking
and transnational crime help to strengthen unified agenda of international
cooperation," the minister stressed, speaking at the 8th ASEM forum. "But
much has to be done yet." According to Lavrov, it is necessary "to fully
abandon double standards in this work".
"It is necessary to strive jointly for creating a common
counter-terrorist and anti-drug space in the Euro-Asian continent," he
emphasised. "It is necessary to continue studying problems of jurisdiction
on the basis of the UN Security Council resolution, adopted at Russia's
initiative, in order to exercise efficiently justice against pirates,
including the establishment of an international anti-piracy tribunal".
The absence of a mechanism of judicial prosecution against sea pirates
remains one of key problems, affecting efficiency of international efforts
on struggle against piracy.
First, most countries have no sufficiently worked-out legislation on
struggle against piracy.
Second, even in case of seizing pirates, military sailors are often
forced to release them, since the European states are not ready to receive
pirates on their territory for juridical examination and imprisonment.
EU and NATO countries now try to settle this problem thanks to
bilateral agreements with the countries in the region, including Kenya and
the Seychelles, which are ready to shoulder juridical prosecution and
punishment of pirates. However, resources of these states are