UN must have central role in coordinating anti-piracy ops: Sen

United Nations, Dec 17 (PTI) Hailing American decision
to set up a Contact Group to coordinate fight against piracy
off the coast of Somalia, India has suggested a central role
for the UN, saying it would give international legitimacy to
any operations undertaken.

"Not only must we institutionalise operational
coordination among the Navies in the area, a mechanism must be
set up for coordination between those involved in the
anti-piracy operations and countries in the region," Indian
Ambassador Nirpuam Sen told the Security Council Tuesday.

As one of the nations that share the Arabian Sea with
Somalia, he said, India is particularly concerned by the
incidents of piracy that are an "unfortunate outcome" of a
larger and ongoing tragedy in Somalia.

He was referring to the fact that there is no working
government in the country since the collapse of dictatorship
17 years ago.

Sen stressed the need for coherent international
efforts to anchor on Somali soil, a new political processes
through an effective peacekeeping Mission, ideally, under UN
leadership.

A comprehensive approach is needed that would address
the chaos that has long enveloped Somalia, he told the
15-member Council.

However, Sen said that recognising the continuing
tragedy and international community's inability to integrate
political processes in a larger peacekeeping effort cannot
justify the lack of a well coordinated response to turmoil
spilling into oceans.

Piracy in Somali waters and off the coast of Somalia,
he pointed out, is an immediate challenge not only to Somalia
itself and the neighbourhood, but to international commerce
and finance as also international peace and security.

"India is directly affected by piracy. Attacks not
only impact upon shipping to and from Indian ports and our
extended neighbourhood, they also exact a heavy impact upon
us, since the international merchant marine has a substantial
proportion of persons of Indian origin," he said.

It is for this reason, Sen said, that India has
responded to the challenge of piracy at the request of, and in
consultation with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of
Somalia.

"Over the last two months, India has deployed two of
its modern Naval vessels to deal with the challenge of
piracy," he said, adding that it has had successes, including
as recently as last weekend.

"But we recognise that piracy remains a significant
threat," he emphasised, saying that from this standpoint,
India believes in international response to piracy in Somalia.
PTI