Sunday, June 09, 2013
The
EU Naval Force has called for cooperation to eradicate piracy.Force
commander Jorge Novo Palma yesterday said despite the significant
reduction of piracy in the last 14 months, more efforts are needed to
curb the vice .
“As you know, piracy is contained. It is not over. This would be my
message,” said Palma.The EU Navfor’s Operation Atalanta has delivered
over 800,000 tonnes of World Food Programme shipment into Somalia since
2008.
Over one million people in Somalia depend on humanitarian
aid.Addressing the press aboard the EU Naval Force Portuguese Flagship,
NRP Álvares Cabral, Palma said after Operation Atalanta is closed, he
will engage in other development activities in Somalia.
He said the EU plans to tackle the problems in Somalia by
stabilizing the country's economy.“We have the ability to contain the
piracy. This is what we are seeking,” said Palma.
“But the piracy will be over only when the country is stabilized and
governance is leveraged and development will come also,” said the force
commander.
He said piracy is a symptom of other problems in Somalia.