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UNCLAS STATE 001223 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EWWT KCRM MOPS PBTS PHSA PTER
SUBJECT: CONTACT GROUP ON SOMALI PIRACY ISSUES FOR 
CONSIDERATION 
 
REF: STATE 133199 
 
-------- 
SUMMARY 
-------- 
 
¶1. This is an action request. Per Ref A, action addressees 
are invited to the inaugural meeting of the Contact Group on 
Somali Piracy (CGSP) in New York on January 13-14, 2009.  To 
better prepare its participants, the Department requests that 
posts solicit feedback from host governments on discussion 
issues posed in this cable, and on the goals and objectives 
within the attached draft communiqu. 
 
----------- 
OBJECTIVES 
----------- 
 
FOR ALL ADDRESSEES: 
 
¶2. Posts are requested to engage host governments to pursue 
the following objectives: 
 
-- Brief on the draft agenda. 
 
-- Welcome feedback on Issues to Consider (para 4). 
 
-- Brief on the proposed meeting communiqu and solicit 
feedback. 
 
------- 
AGENDA 
------- 
 
¶3. Draft agenda follows: 
 
Tuesday, January 13, 2008 
 
1830-2000:        Reception ) Hosted by Ambassador Karen 
Pierce, 
                  the United Kingdom Deputy PERMREP to the 
UN, 
510 Park Avenue, Apartment 11A, New York City 
RSVP not required. 
 
Wednesday, January 14, 2008 
 
Location: United Nations Building Conference Room 1 
 
0730 ) 0830:     Registration and Coffee 
0830 ) 0900:     Introductory Comments and brief Situation 
Update 
0900 ) 1030:     Review of UNSC Resolutions and Contact Group 
Objectives and Modalities, followed by remarks by 
Contact Group members/observers desiring to speak 
(3 min per intervention) 
1030 ) 1230:     Discussion of Communiqu Focus Areas 1, 2 
and 3: 
 
1) Improving operational and intelligence support 
to counter-piracy operations. 
2) Establishing a counter-piracy coordination 
mechanism. 
                  3) Strengthening judicial frameworks for 
arrest, 
prosecution and detention of pirates. 
 
1230 ) 1330:     Lunch (provided) 
 
1330 - 1530:      Discussion of Communiqu Focus Areas 4, 5 
and 6: 
 
4) Strengthening commercial shipping 
self-awareness and other capabilities. 
5) Pursuing improved diplomatic and public 
information efforts. 
6) Disrupting pirate financial operations. 
 
1530 ) 1630:     CGSP Governing Structure, Support, Next 
Steps; 
      CGSP Meeting Communiqu and Concluding Remarks 
1630:             Press Availability 
 
------------------- 
ISSUES TO CONSIDER 
------------------- 
 
¶4. It would be helpful if participants would come prepared to 
discuss the following questions: 
 
Focus Area 1. Improving operational and intelligence support 
to counter-piracy operations. 
-- Need for additional surveillance and intelligence in the 
region. 
-- Regional organizations to work with Horn of Africa states 
and/or the African Union on maritime capacity building. 
-- Willingness to provide or increase military assets. 
-- Synchronization of maritime assets to ensure uninterrupted 
presence and capability. 
-- Development of operational concepts to seize and dispose 
of boats, vessels, arms and other related suspicious 
equipment. 
 
Focus Area 2. Establishing a counter-piracy coordination 
mechanism. 
-- Location and willingness of nations to support and 
participate in interim Counter-Piracy Coordination Center 
(CPCC). 
-- Location and willingness of nations to support and 
participate in a regional follow-on CPCC. 
-- Integration of non-military missions (industry, judicial) 
into the CPCC, and providing better information to maritime 
industry. 
 
Focus Area 3. Strengthening judicial frameworks for arrest, 
prosecution and detention of pirates. 
 
-- Extent to which CGSP members have established criminal 
jurisdiction that covers piracy on the high seas, armed 
robbery in Somali territorial water, and related acts. 
-- Circumstances under which CGSP members are in a position 
to prosecute suspected pirates, from both a policy and 
capacity point of view; and the extent of financial or other 
resources CGSP members are able to make available to assist 
other states with prosecutions. 
-- For CGSP members participating in naval activities in the 
Gulf of Aden, the extent to which they have, or are 
considering concluding, arrangements with states in the 
region concerning prosecution of suspected pirates. 
-- For states in the region actively prosecuting suspected 
pirates, their requirements to strengthen capacity to 
prosecute and incarcerate, and legal requirements of which 
other states capturing suspects should be aware such as 
evidentiary standards. 
 
Focus Area 4. Strengthening commercial shipping 
self-awareness and other capabilities. 
 
-- Additional self-defense measures and commitments that 
could be taken by the maritime industry. 
-- Methods for encouraging increased compliance with industry 
standards. 
-- Incentives for industry collaboration with the CPCC. 
 
Focus Area 5. Pursuing improved diplomatic and public 
information efforts. 
 
-- Identification of target audiences and intended effects on 
each. 
-- Willingness to commit sufficient resources to public 
diplomacy efforts. 
 
Focus Area 6. Disrupting pirate financial operations. 
 
-- Identification of ways and means to gather, assess and 
share information on pirate finances. 
-- Enhancement of national and international law enforcement 
mechanisms and coordination to interdict illicit financial 
flows and related criminal activity. 
 
----------- 
COMMUNIQUE 
----------- 
 
¶5.  The following draft communiqu may be printed out and 
shared as follows: 
 
Pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1851, 
the Contact Group on Somali Piracy (CGSP) was established on 
January 14, 2009 to facilitate discussion and coordinate 
actions between states and organizations to suppress piracy 
off the coast of Somalia.  Participating as founding members 
were:  Australia, China, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, France, 
Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Republic of 
Korea, The Netherlands, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia 
TFG, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, 
United States, and Yemen.  Five organizations took part as 
observers: the African Union, the European Union, the 
International Maritime Organization, the North Atlantic 
Treaty Organization (NATO), and the UN Secretariat. 
 
The Contact Group on Somali Piracy notes that piracy off the 
Horn of Africa grew significantly in 2008, and that attacks 
on shipping vessels can be expected to increase without 
enhanced international efforts.  In 2008, over 100 attacks, 
including over 40 successful seizures, have resulted in 
hundreds of persons taken hostage.  The pirates have been 
demanding million-dollar ransoms for release of the hostages, 
ships and cargoes.  Somali-based piracy disrupts critical 
humanitarian aid deliveries to Somalia, increases shipping 
insurance premiums along one of the world,s most traveled 
routes to near-prohibitive levels, damages littoral economies 
by forcing the diversion of vessels around the Cape of Good 
Hope, and raises the prospect of an environmental disaster as 
ships fall prey to hostile intent.  Piracy weakens security 
and rule of law in Somalia and is a threat to regional 
stability. As important, piracy is symptomatic of the overall 
situation in Somalia. As such, piracy issues must be kept in 
mind as one element of a larger challenge, and international 
support for organizations such as the U.N. Contact Group on 
Somalia must be encouraged as well as support for the Contact 
Group on Somali Piracy. 
 
The Contact Group on Somali Piracy applauds the efforts 
countries, industry, and regional and international 
organizations have taken to address the piracy problem.  Of 
particular note, the CGSP applauds the counter-piracy 
operations that the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), NATO and 
the EU have undertaken during the last six months. 
 
The Contact Group on Somali Piracy intends to establish as 
soon as possible in 2009 a Counter-Piracy Coordination Center 
(CPCC) in the region, pursuant to UNSCR 1851. Pending the 
establishment of the CPCC, the Contact Group will look to put 
interim arrangements in place. The CGSP asks member states, 
international and regional organizations, and industry to 
send staff and liaison officers to both the interim and 
follow-on facilities. 
 
The Contact Group on Somali Piracy agrees that better 
intelligence is needed in order to address the problem of 
piracy off the coast of Somalia, and calls on members to 
contribute additional intelligence and surveillance assets to 
the region. 
 
The Contact Group on Somali Piracy recognizes the importance 
of apprehending and prosecuting suspected pirates.  The CGSP 
calls on all parties to implement their obligations under 
relevant UN Conventions, including the Law of the Sea 
Convention, and obligations under the 1988 Convention for the 
Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime 
Navigation ("SUA Convention") with respect to establishing 
jurisdiction and accepting delivery of suspected pirates. 
The CGSP will examine options for developing other mechanisms 
to address piracy.  The Group welcomes the efforts of the 
Government of Kenya in particular to support the arrest, 
prosecution, and disposition of suspected pirates and 
encourages all members to reach arrangements, as necessary, 
with countries in the region to facilitate bringing to 
justice those involved in piracy. 
 
The Contact Group on Somali Piracy applauds the International 
Maritime Organizations (IMO) establishment of self-defense 
standards for commercial vessels transiting the region.  The 
CGSP will work with the IMO, shipping industry 
representatives, and shipping companies to increase the 
distribution and employment of best practices and threat 
information. 
 
The Contact Group on Somali Piracy is committed to 
respecting, and ensuring that its nations, flag vessels 
respect Somalia's sovereign rights over natural resources in 
its offshore maritime areas. 
 
CGSP membership includes countries affected by piracy and 
those nations that are contributing to counter-piracy 
operations.  It is expected that all members will actively 
participate, as appropriate, in CGSP activities and regularly 
contribute tangible assistance to counter-piracy activities. 
The CGSP will consider additional membership requests on a 
case by case basis. 
 
The CGSP identified six related groups of activities and 
agrees to establish working groups for each activity area, 
composed of a smaller sub-set of CGSP members.  The working 
groups will communicate regularly and meet periodically, to 
coordinate activities in the following focus areas: 
 
Focus Area 1. Improving Operational and Intelligence Support 
to Counter-Piracy Operations:  The Working Group will assess 
what additional military and intelligence assets are needed 
in the region and encourage states to help fill any gaps. At 
the next CGSP meeting, this Working Group will recommend 
steps to improve coordination and effectiveness of military 
operations in the region.  It will also encourage the 
deployment of additional military, and intelligence, 
surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets to the region. 
 
Focus Area 2. Establishing a Counter-Piracy Coordination 
Mechanism:  The Working Group will look to put interim 
arrangements in place to increase information sharing and 
coordination pending the establishment of a Counter-Piracy 
Coordination Center (CPCC). The Working Group will provide 
recommendations on the location of the CPCC (such as Djibouti 
or another regional location), funding, and structure to be 
established no later than the end of 2009. 
 
Focus Area 3. Strengthening Judicial Frameworks for Arrest, 
Prosecution and Detention of Pirates:  At the next CGSP 
meeting, the Working Group will provide recommendations on 
immediate, practical support the international community can 
provide to countries in the region currently in a position to 
prosecute suspected pirates.  The Working Group will also 
work to expand the number of countries in the region that are 
willing and able to prosecute suspected pirates by means such 
as helping to build their legal capacity, and by facilitating 
arrangements, as needed, between such countries and other 
CGSP members.  The Working Group will also examine options 
for developing other mechanisms to address piracy. 
 
Focus Area 4. Strengthening Commercial Shipping 
Self-Awareness and Other Capabilities:  The CGSP will work 
with the IMO, shipping industry representatives, and shipping 
companies to increase the distribution of best practices and 
threat information.  The Working Group will develop 
mechanisms to support implementation of best practices and 
compliance with industry standards for shipping operations in 
high risk piracy areas. 
 
Focus Area 5. Pursuing Improved Diplomatic and Public 
Information Efforts:  The Working Group will develop plans to 
increase public awareness of the piracy threat, encourage 
international contributions to counter-piracy operations, and 
inform audiences of the progress that has been made to combat 
the piracy problem.  The Working Group will focus its 
outreach efforts on the international community, regional 
states and actors, and states that share an interest in 
addressing this issue. 
 
Focus Area 6. Disrupting Pirate Financial Operations:  The 
Working Group will provide advice on the use of national 
capabilities to gather, assess and share financial 
information on pirate operations.  At the next CG meeting, 
the Working Group will provide a brief on current 
intelligence on financing for pirate operations and provide 
recommendations on gathering, assessing and sharing this 
information. 
 
The Contact Group on Somali Piracy agreed to establish a 
small Secretariat in the region, co-located with the 
Counter-Piracy Coordination Center, and sponsored by the 
United Nations.  The Secretariat will be responsible for 
scheduling and reporting on the outcomes of meetings of the 
Contact Group, and with regard to the working groups, 
scheduling and supporting their meetings, tracking and 
reporting on their progress, and distributing their findings 
and recommendations to the Contact Group. 
 
The Contact Group on Somali Piracy recognizes that the 
international community of interest is far greater than the 
membership of the CGSP, and pledges to inform the larger 
community of all significant CGSP conclusions, rationale and 
activities.  It recognizes that effective coordination of 
activities to eradicate piracy requires coordination among 
the entire international community, and so remains open to 
receiving input from CGSP and non-CGSP members. 
 
The Contact Group on Somali Piracy plans to meet again in 
March 2009 to review the progress and direction of the six 
working groups.  It will consider, at that time, the addition 
of new members. 
 
------------------- 
REPORTING DEADLINE 
------------------- 
 
¶6. Posts are requested, by no later than January 10, to 
report any feedback on the agenda, Issues to Consider, and 
the proposed goals and objectives within the communiqu. 
 
----------- 
BACKGROUND 
----------- 
 
¶7. The Contact Group on Somali Piracy (CGSP) will be 
established by this meeting on January 14 to facilitate 
discussion and coordinate the activities of states and 
organizations to suppress piracy off the coast of Somalia 
pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1851. 
 
------------------ 
POINTS OF CONTACT 
------------------ 
 
¶8. Department POCs are in PM/PPA:  David Glancy at (202) 
736-4054, Donna Hopkins at (202) 647-0792, and Evan Foster at 
(202) 647-0336, or by email. 
RICE