The National
Monday, September 02, 2013
The third annual international counter-piracy conference to take place
in the emirate will focus on rebuilding the nation of Somalia, according
to the organisers.
Unlike the two previous events, this year's conference will
concentrate on building the capacities of Somali institutions to develop
security and economic growth, said Dr Theodore Karasik, the director of
research at the Institute of Near East and Gulf Military Analysis.
"Governments
and international organisations will work together to focus on
rebuilding institutions and identifying gaps that need to be filled," he
said.
"Institutions such as the justice system, security system, maritime security, of course, and others will have to be focused on."
In 2011 and last year, the conference achieved many milestones.
An international consensus was reached on the threat of piracy in
2011 and funding was increased to suppress attacks. Governments also
mobilised more naval units to patrol hotspots and a direct link between
the increased military presence and a decline in piracy was noted.
According
to the Combined Maritime Task Force in the Gulf of Aden, the region has
experienced a 75 per cent drop in piracy over the past two years.
A
senior officer with the UK's Royal Navy, Commodore Simon Ancona, said:
"It is true to say, and it's very good news indeed, that the piracy
problem at the moment is nothing like it was two years ago.
"But this is a slow process to bring the sort of security assurances that are required to stop piracy."
According
to Dr Karasik, there is consensus among tribal factions and political
groups in Somalia that rebuilding the country is a priority.
"The
clans that supplied the manpower for piracy are all in consensus that
they want to engage in legitimate trade and ways of life," he said.
"The fragmented Somali factions, like Somaliland, Puntland and Jubaland, all share a good ethos to rebuild the region."
At
last year's conference, the leaders of these factions met in Dubai and
signed the Dubai Declaration, which marked the first engagement between
the leaders and paved the way for the first political breakthrough in 20
years.
So far the UAE has dedicated more than Dh220 million to
Somalia in humanitarian aid, security assistance and funds, Dr Karasik
said.
More than 500 participants, comprising foreign ministers,
senior government officials, executives of global maritime sector
companies and experts, will attend the conference at Madinat Jumeirah
Amphitheatre next week.