Brussels, 02/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - Taking stock of the situation before the press on Tuesday 2 February, the commander of Operation EU NAVFOR Atalanta (EU maritime operation off the coast of Somalia), Rear Admiral Peter Hudson, said the operation was only a part of a broader approach. During a joint conference attended by representatives of the European Commission and of the new crisis management and planning directorate, Rear Admiral Hudson said it was impossible to combat piracy and that the aim of the mission would now be to reduce to a minimum the risk of attacks against merchant shipping in the Indian Ocean and Somali Basin.
Although in general terms the number of pirate attacks increased during 2009 compared to one year earlier, the rear admiral pointed out that no ships from the World food Programme (WFP) or from the African Union mission in Somalia (AMISOM) escorted by EU forces had been attacked or seized since deployment of the mission. During this year, discussions will continue on a possible second extension of the mission's mandate, which reaches expiry on 12 December. The mission will focus more on strengthening coordination, among other things with NATO and China, and on strengthening intelligence needed to offset the limited means of the operation (seven ships on average and three patrol aircraft). As before, priority will be given to WFP protection and AMISOM support.
If, by Friday, no member state has expressed opposition, the road will be open for launching a new military operation for the training of Somali security forces (see EUROPE 10063). The aim is to “ensure that the Somali transitional government has troops to control territories beyond Mogadiscio”, said Didier Lenoir (crisis management and planning) addressing the press. He stressed the EU's wish to “work with players” already on the ground and within a “global approach”. With a budget of about €5 million and commanded by Colonel Elul of Spain, the mission would allow specific training for 2,000 future Somali soldiers. The member states will, as part of the same budget, fund the fitting out of the training site in Bianga. The transfer of salaries should be ensured by PriceWaterHouseCoopers, and the monitoring of troops trained will be ensured by the African Union (AMISOM). The Commission, for its part, is expected to seize the opportunity of review of the 10th European Development Fund to take current needs more into account, and to seek greater involvement by the Somali population (especially the diaspora) and civil society. (A.By./transl.jl)