EU to replace NATO on anti-piracy mission

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-04-2008 10:04

A European Union flotilla will begin anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia next week. The EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, made the announcement on Wednesday.

The British frigate HMS Portland heads through the Suez canal,in Ismailia, Egypt Wednesday, Dec.3,2008.(AP Photo)

He says the EU warships will arrive on Monday, and the hand-over with the NATO force will take place on December the 15th.

The six warships and three maritime reconnaissance aircraft will replace the NATO naval force in the region.

Officials say France, Greece, Germany and Britain will provide ships for the initial contingent, and France and Italy will provide patrol aircraft.

The contingents will be rotated every three months, and at least four vessels will remain on station at all times.

The task force will be the EU's first naval operation. It will have the same duties as the NATO mission, including escorting cargo vessels, protecting merchant ships and deterring pirate attacks.

Javier Solana, EU foreign policy chief, said, "You can be sure it is going to be a robust mission with the objective to accompany some of the ships that may cross the region, in particular those of the United Nations but (also) other vulnerable ships and deter and protect. Therefore I think it is going to be a useful operation to try to bring to that part of the sea more security which is badly needed."

Meanwhile, NATO foreign ministers say they will also consider the possibility of deploying a follow-up anti-piracy mission to assist the EU ships.

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer says the alliance's military authorities are already discussing the possibility of a follow-up mission.

He says no decision has been made, but looking ahead, there's much work to be done.

The NATO ministers have agreed to ask the UN Security Council to clarify the legal issues involved.

Under the current UN mandate, the international fleet operating off the Horn of Africa has not been able to board ships seized by the pirates in order to free their hostages.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei