How to stamp out piracy?

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Source: CCTV.com | 11-21-2008 15:46

A recent surge of Somali piracy in the Gulf of Aden has sparked international concerns over how to deal with the thorny issue.

Some major powers in the world are calling for immediate military action to fight against piracy.

A video grab from an undated television footage shows an unidentified pirate speaking directly to camera in the town of Eyl in the north of Somalia. (REUTERS/Reuters TV)

The scourge has driven up insurance costs and threatened a key international trade route through the Red Sea. But there are also calls to address the root cause of the problem.

Ambassadors to Egypt from Djibouti, Jordan, Somalia, Sudan and the Arab League gathered in Cairo on Thursday, reviewing several options to tackle Somali piracy.

Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister Waffa Bassem chaired the meeting. She says options include setting up a piracy monitoring center, establishing joint maneuvers by Arab navies and putting into place warning systems for ships navigating through the Red Sea.

On Thursday, NATO expressed its willingness to launch anti-piracy operations. Pirates are currently holding at least 13 hijacked vessels.

Last month, NATO began deploying ships off the Somalia coast, escorting ships delivering humanitarian aid. It also mounted patrols as part of an international effort to fight piracy.