U.S. Congressman Kendrick Meekon Wednesday urged the international community to join hands to stop the piracy off the coast of Somalia.
Meek, who led a three-member U.S. congressional delegation, expressed his country's commitment to stop the piracy and ensure peace and security in Somalia.
Piracy has grown into a major business off the coast of Somalia, a country that has lacked a central government for more than 17 years.
Piracy off the coast of Somalia has been on the increase, affecting the shipping route, one of the world's busiest, linking the Middle East and Asia to Europe and beyond through the Suez Canal.
After his talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Meek, who is a member of the U.S. Congress's armed services committee, told journalists that Ethiopia and the United States have a strong bilateral cooperation in the fight of terrorism.
He expressed appreciation for Ethiopia's efforts in fighting terrorism in Somalia and the region as a whole. During their talks, Meles said Ethiopia and the United States may carry on with their cooperation in trying to ensure peace and security in the Horn of Africa.
Ethiopia has been central to U.S. anti-terrorism efforts in the Horn of Africa on both the security and fiscal fronts. It has stepped up its border control efforts and helped the United States freeze financial assets of suspected terrorists.
The United States is providing military logistics to Ethiopia in addition to the training of its military officers.
Source:Xinhua
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