The UN Security Council has decided to study the possibility of establishing special courts to try the pirates of Somalia within and outside the country, Bairdmaritime reports.
“The security council decides to consider urgently the establishment of specialised courts in Somalia to try those suspected pirates in both Somalia and the region, including an offshore Somali specialised court to fight piracy," reads Resolution 1976 of the Board.
The 15 council members, plus representatives from Spain, Italy, Ukraine and Somalia, who are not part, intended to promote the fight against piracy by arresting and prosecuting offenders.
The resolution, sponsored by Russia and adopted unanimously, requested the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon, to submit proposals during the next two months.
The council also hopes that governments, the maritime industry and others affected by piracy will provide financial support for any new courts.
It also suggests to the states to “criminalise piracy” under their national laws, and to investigate and expose those who finance, organise or benefit from piracy attacks off the coast of Somalia.
Pirate attacks, “aggravate the situation in the country, that still represents a threat to international peace and security in the region,” the resolution added.
For this reason, the security council, “calls upon states and regional organisations to continue to support and assist Somalia in its efforts to develop domestic fisheries and port activities in line with the Regional Action Plan, and in this sense emphasises the importance of defining as soon as possible the maritime areas of Somalia under the Convention [of the UN]. "
The Russian ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, said that the adoption of the resolution is a “great step forward” for the Council.
Meanwhile, the French ambassador to the UN, Gérard Araud, expressed his hope that the new rule, “take into consideration the long-term economic interests of Somalia, calling for the Somali maritime delimitation.”
“The security council decides to consider urgently the establishment of specialised courts in Somalia to try those suspected pirates in both Somalia and the region, including an offshore Somali specialised court to fight piracy," reads Resolution 1976 of the Board.
The 15 council members, plus representatives from Spain, Italy, Ukraine and Somalia, who are not part, intended to promote the fight against piracy by arresting and prosecuting offenders.
The resolution, sponsored by Russia and adopted unanimously, requested the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon, to submit proposals during the next two months.
The council also hopes that governments, the maritime industry and others affected by piracy will provide financial support for any new courts.
It also suggests to the states to “criminalise piracy” under their national laws, and to investigate and expose those who finance, organise or benefit from piracy attacks off the coast of Somalia.
Pirate attacks, “aggravate the situation in the country, that still represents a threat to international peace and security in the region,” the resolution added.
For this reason, the security council, “calls upon states and regional organisations to continue to support and assist Somalia in its efforts to develop domestic fisheries and port activities in line with the Regional Action Plan, and in this sense emphasises the importance of defining as soon as possible the maritime areas of Somalia under the Convention [of the UN]. "
The Russian ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, said that the adoption of the resolution is a “great step forward” for the Council.
Meanwhile, the French ambassador to the UN, Gérard Araud, expressed his hope that the new rule, “take into consideration the long-term economic interests of Somalia, calling for the Somali maritime delimitation.”