CAIRO — Yemen intends to establish an international group to battle piracy in the
Gulf.
Yemen plans to launch operations of a regional center to combat piracy
in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden in 2009, Middle East Newsline reported. Officials said the center would
be established in cooperation with 20 other countries, including Japan,
Malaysia and the United States.
"The center will be opened at the beginning of next year, and two other
centers will be opened in Tanzania and Kenya," Yemeni Transportation
Minister Khalid Ibraim Al Wazir said.
Al Wazir said the center would coordinate maritime security efforts to
protect international shipping in the southern Gulf. In 2008, more than 80
vessels were attacked and captured by pirates in the Horn of Africa.
Officials said details of the center were hammered out in meetings by
sponsors in October 2008. They said cooperation agreements have been signed
among the sponsors to respond to an increase in piracy, believed to stem
from Somalia.
Yemen has sought to use the piracy threat to expand its nascent coast
guard. Officials said Sanaa plans to acquire up to 100 patrol vessels to
ensure maritime security in the Gulf of Aden.
The Yemeni Cabinet said Sanaa would establish piracy centers in Aden,
Hodieda and Mukalla. No dates were released.
