Arab countries overlooking the Red Sea promised here on Thursday to coordinate efforts in the fight against piracy near the Red Sea region.
During an extraordinary meeting co-chaired by Egypt and Yemen, representatives from Jordan, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Djibouti and the Arab League (AL) discussed means of fighting against the growing threat of piracy, the Egyptian MENA news agency reported.
Noting the meeting "came at the right time," AL Assistant Secretary General Ahmed ben Helli said it is important to have political, legal and security coordination among Arab and African states overlooking the Red Sea in a bid to uproot piracy.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the delegates condemned the growing threat of piracy in the Red Sea that is not far away from the Somalis coasts, an area seeing rampant piracy.
The delegates expressed their concern over the phenomenon of piracy off the Somalia coasts, Gulf of Aden and the western part of Indian Ocean.
They voiced their desire to enhance further cooperation and consultation to prevent the piracy from spreading into the Red Seawaters, saying the Red Sea Arab countries are responsible for the security in the region.
The Arab countries support regional and international efforts to fight against piracy so long as they abide by international law and respect the sovereignty of related countries, said the statement.
On Wednesday, Egypt said it will take all necessary measures infighting against piracy in and near the Red Sea.
All options are on the table for Egypt since piracy is threatening navigation in the Red Sea and forcing some ships to take other routes, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki.
The waters off the Somali coasts are considered to be some of the world's most dangerous areas as pirates have hijacked and attacked dozens of ships this year.
Most attacks have been in the Gulf of Aden between Yemen and north Somalia, a major route leading to Egypt's Suez Canal, one of the most important international waterways linking Europe and Asia.
Source:Xinhua
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