Minister Morgan pleased with outcome of anti-piracy conference in Dubai |06 November 2014

The Minister for Home Affairs and Transport, Joël Morgan, has returned to the Seychelles with his delegation following successful meetings at the just completed anti-piracy conference in Dubai, UAE.

The meeting, under the theme ‘Security state recovery: Sustaining momentum at sea, confronting instability on land’, was held from October 27-30.

The events in Dubai were in two parts with meetings starting on October 27 for members of the Contact Group for Piracy off the coast of Somalia (CGPS), and working group 3, which Seychelles co- chairs. This was followed by the anti-piracy conference itself which started on October 29. The working Group 3 meetings were chaired by Seychelles’ ambassador to the UAE, Dick Esparon.

“This visit permitted my delegation to not only attend the CGPS, which the Seychelles co-chairs, but as well we were able to hold a board meeting of member nations for Reflecs 3,  and several bilateral meetings with key nations and international organisations discussing a broad range of security issues prior to and after the conference. I stressed that we must not lose focus or sight of the threats which still are present in the Western Indian Ocean, even as some discuss pulling back resources to combat those very same threats,” said Minister Morgan.

Minister Morgan at the conference took part with five other invited personalities at a plenary session which had as a discussion theme, ‘Lessons learned from maritime piracy in the Horn of Africa, and a framework for future cooperation.”

The minister also held separate bilateral meetings with the Federal State of Somalia, Nato, Interpol, Mauritius, Norway, Netherlands, the Puntland State of Somalia and the United Arab Emirates whose delegation was led by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Foreign Minister of the UAE.

At the steering group board meeting with member states to Reflecs 3, the Regional Fusion and Law Enforcement Centre for Safety and Security at Sea, which was held on October 29, members agreed to continue supporting Reflecs 3, noting however that more should be done to publicise what has been achieved until today.

Member states attending were the United States of America, Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Seychelles, with Australia sending apologies for not being able to attend.   Representatives from the UNODC were as well present.

“It was an intense few days but overall we were able to achieve much despite the tight and packed schedules.  My message that we must build our capacity within the region was well received,” added the minister.

During this anti-piracy conference it was announced that seven sailors of Indian nationality had been freed by their pirate captors after being held for four years.  The news was welcomed by all assembled delegates, however noting that 30 sailors are at this time still being held by pirates in Somalia.

In his closing remarks, Minister Morgan stressed on the need for the government of Somalia to prosecute and imprison the pirates who were at large in Somalia.

He stated it was important that the state of Somalia takes its responsibilities as a member of the international community.  The minister also thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE and DP World for organising and hosting the 4th anti-piracy conference, which was again held in Dubai.  

The minister’s delegation comprised Ambassador Esparon; Lt. Colonel Michael Rosette of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF); Joseph Bibi, director of Reflecs 3; Dave Thomas, deputy director of Reflecs 3; Jacques Belle from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Raymond St. Ange, security consultant to the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport.