This reassurance was given by its high representative for foreign affairs and security policy Catherine Ashton during a press conference last Friday at the Seychelles Trading Company’s conference room.

It followed a regional ministerial forum at the same venue, which focused on a regional plan to address the scourge of piracy.

This was attended by ministers from Djibouti, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique and South Africa, as well as Seychelles. 
Representatives of the African Union (AU), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), the Indian Ocean Commission, Interpol and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime were also present.

Baroness Ashton’s press conference came at the end of her two-day official visit here. Also present was Environment, Natural Resources and Transport Minister Joel Morgan, who is also chairman of the High-Level Committee on Piracy.

Baroness Ashton said the EU will continue to patrol the Indian Ocean and extend its support to countries in the region that have shown their willingness to deal seriously with piracy.

She said the ministerial meeting was a time to listen to the concerns of these countries and regional organisations, and to discuss the way forward.

“We have agreed on a short, medium and long-term strategy,” she said.
“In the short term our main priority is to provide a deterrent and if necessary to capture, prosecute and convict pirates.

“In the medium-term strategy we are stressing the need to strengthen the capacities of the countries on prosecuting and imprisoning the pirates. But it was agreed that a comprehensive strategy can only be achieved by addressing the underlying security challenges and development factors behind piracy.”

Baroness Ashton said the long-term strategy is to achieve real stability in the region, and continuing growth and economic development in Somalia.

She added that last year the EU spent around €120 million on the anti-piracy mission. Though there is pressure on the budget, this mission is a priority; there is a genuine partnership here and we need to continue our contribution.

Mr Morgan thanked the countries that took part for their input to this first step towards drawing up a coherent regional plan in response to the problem of piracy.

“We look forward to the continued good partnership and valuable contribution that the EU is making to the anti-piracy efforts in this area – through its criminal justice system, financially and militarily,” he said.

Baroness Ashton’s visit has highlighted and supported the importance of a regional response to the problem of piracy, he added.

“During the meeting we have pushed to get a mechanism at regional level, and Seychelles is ready to take the lead. Together with regional organisations like the AU and Comesa, and other countries, we need to integrate into the international plan,” said Mr Morgan.

“We have helped the EU and have our own mechanism to defend ourselves and to carry on with the mission. One of the important outcomes of this meeting for Seychelles is the fact that we are taking a leadership role at regional level in the fight against piracy.”

There was political engagement at the meeting by all countries, including Mauritius, to play a more active role in establishing a regional mechanism to combat piracy, which is not only a problem for the Gulf of Aden, the Horn of Africa or Seychelles, Mr Morgan said.

Now other countries in the region have realised that it is moving into other parts of the Indian Ocean.

At international level there are three main efforts – by the EU-Navfor’s Operation Atalanta, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and combined taskforces which include countries in Asia, Europe and other parts of the world.

“We have been given assurances by the EU that their support for Seychelles under the specific country programme is there to stay and will increase further,” said Mr Morgan.

The EU has recognised the “effort that we are putting into the fight against piracy and bringing the pirates to justice”, he added.

Baroness Ashton’s visit was also a time for the EU to discuss how it can increase its support to Seychelles, following President James Michel’s call for more help from the international community.

“The EU has agreed to provide financial support to Seychelles to help our coastguard and help fund our anti-piracy operation,” added Mr Morgan.

Last year Seychelles spent more than R40 million on anti-piracy operations, including surveillance patrols. This year in the budget there is a total of R36 million, with around R3 million a month now going on this effort.

Forrás: http://nation.sc/