Focus on source of piracy – EU security head
The best way to tackle the current piracy problem is to focus on its sources and deal with the various situations that have caused the crisis, European Union (EU) foreign affairs and security policy representative Catherine Ashton said yesterday.
She was speaking shortly after visiting the Swedish naval ship Carlskrona, now docked in Port Victoria after taking part in the EU Atalanta operation against piracy.
Also present during the visit were Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Transport Joel Morgan – who also heads the High-Level Committee on Piracy, principal secretary for foreign affairs Barry Faure, French ambassador Philippe Delacroix, British high commissioner Matthew Forbes, senior EU and government representatives.
Baroness Ashton – also the vice-president of the EU Commission – said nations across the region, with the help of foreign organisations, should work together to come up with possible solutions to the problem, not only at sea but also on land.
Earlier yesterday, Baroness Ashton and her delegation toured the EU Atalanta maritime surveillance command centre and aircraft based at Seychelles International Airport.