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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUL #0963/01 1680655
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170655Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4729
INFO RHMFISS/COMUSFK SEOUL KOR
RUACAAA/COMUSKOREA INTEL SEOUL KOR
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//OSD/ISA/EAP//
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1121

UNCLAS SEOUL 000963 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EWWT MARR PHSA PHUM PREL KS
SUBJECT: SEOUL HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON PIRACY OFF THE COAST 
OF SOMALIA 
 
¶1.  Summary:  On June 9-10, the ROKG hosted the Seoul High 
Level Meeting on Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia.  The 
introductory remarks advocated coordination of international 
efforts and stabilization of Somalia as key to effectively 
combating piracy.  Meeting participants agreed that 
international and regional organizations had a role in 
finding solutions to piracy, but success depended on 
increased coordination that minimized duplication of effort. 
The safety of fishing vessels in the affected areas depended 
on the willingness of the military in the region to share 
information with the vessels, but the presenters argued 
against arming crews as an effective means to address piracy. 
 The meeting acknowledged the efforts of various 
organizations in combatting piracy, but singled out Japan, 
the United States, and the European Commission for their 
financial support to regional capacity development.  The 
delegates offered suggestions of additional ways that the 
military could counter pirates, such as interdicting the 
supply of weapons to pirates.  The ROKG concluded the meeting 
by releasing the Seoul Statement on Piracy Off the Coast of 
Somalia.  End summary. 
 
------------- 
Introduction 
------------- 
 
¶2.  The introductory remarks reiterated two main themes: 
international coordination and regional stabilization were 
necessary to address piracy in the Horn of Africa.  Shin 
Kak-soo, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the 
Republic of Korea, proposed the 4-C's approach to combat 
piracy off the coast of Somalia: namely collaboration, 
comprehensiveness, coherent coordination, and concrete 
actions.  Yasutoshi Nishimura, Vice-Minister for Foreign 
Affairs of Japan, explained Japan's active participation in 
the counter-piracy efforts, and called for a multi-faceted 
approach based on a mid- to long-term perspective, including 
information sharing mechanisms between the private sector and 
governments, maritime enforcement capacity building, regional 
cooperation, and stabilization in Somalia.  The Permanent 
Secretary in the Office of the Vice-President and Ministry of 
Home Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, Ludeki Chweya, said 
that international cooperation was indispensable in combating 
piracy and the long-term solution to the problem was to 
establish a functioning government in Somalia.  Delivering a 
message from the Secretary General of the International 
Maritime Organization (IMO), Mr. Koji Sekimizu, Director of 
the IMO Maritime Safety Division, said that the long-term 
solution to the problem of piracy in the Gulf of Aden should 
be found in the region itself, involving the fortification of 
coast guards, the enforcement of legal capabilities, the 
establishment of adequate training, timely intelligence 
gathering and information sharing, and cooperation and 
sustainable capacity building in the region. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
Role of International and Regional Organizations in the 
Repression of Piracy 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
¶3.  The meeting participants agreed that the short term 
solution to piracy was the investigation, prosecution, and 
punishment of suspected pirates, while establishing political 
stability and the rule of law in Somalia were the long term 
solutions.  Within this context, international and regional 
organizations should increase their cooperation and 
coordination with each other, thereby avoiding duplication of 
efforts and enhancing effectiveness.  The Information Sharing 
Center of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating 
Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) was 
singled out as an example of the information sharing between 
authorities and industries that represented one of the best 
practices for developing cooperation in the area off the 
coast of Somalia.  Participants then discussed possible ways 
to increase their participation in anti-piracy mechanisms, 
such as the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia 
(CGPCS) and the International Trust Fund. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
Response of the Industry and Best Management Practices 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶4.  Some meeting participants expressed concern that the 
threat to fishing ships was increasing, and in this regard, 
took note of the fact that the IMO developed additional 
guidance to assist fishing vessels, which would complement 
the best management practices.  The guidance now needed wider 
distribution among the shipping and fishing industries.  The 
 
Yemeni delegation said that there needed to be greater 
information sharing (including information technology) 
between fishing boats and military forces operating in the 
region.  Shipping representatives noted that some companies 
had taken preventive measures with success, and that these 
actions would complement government counter-piracy efforts 
off the coast of Somalia.  However, whenever someone raised 
the subject of arming crews, the consensus from the 
presenters was against the necessity and effectiveness of 
arming crews. 
 
¶5.  The delegates agreed that the Best Management Practices, 
which were transmitted to the Contact Group and subsequently 
adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the IMO on 27 May 
to 5 June 2009, contributed substantially to reducing the 
threat of piracy. 
 
-------------------------- 
Regional Capacity Building 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6.  The delegates commended both the CGPCS' prioritization of 
regional capability development and the CGPCS Working Group 1 
in coordination with regional countries and international 
organizations.  Furthermore, numerous participants also 
welcomed the activity being taken by the IMO, UNPOS, UNODC, 
Interpol, the European Commission, and individual countries, 
specifically singling out the willingness of Japan, the 
United States and the European Commission for making 
significant financial contributions to regional capability 
development. 
 
------------------------------------------- 
Recent Developments in Military Operations 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  The participants discussed the recent developments and 
experiences in military operations, including those of the 
Combined Maritime Forces, EU, and NATO, after which they 
proposed additional ways the international community could 
maximize the effectiveness of these operations, such as the 
interdiction of the supply of arms to pirates, the 
development of cooperative law enforcement mechanisms, 
military training where appropriate, and coordinated 
cooperation on convoy escorting. 
 
---------- 
Conclusion 
---------- 
 
¶8.  Lee Joon-gyu, Ambassador for International 
Counter-Terrorism Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea, said that piracy 
was a multi-dimensional issue that demanded a comprehensive 
response from a diversity of stakeholders, and in this 
regard, underlined the importance of the aforementioned 4-C's 
approach.  Seif Ali Iddi, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs 
and International Cooperation of the United Republic of 
Tanzania, asked all stakeholders to provide all forms of 
assistance to enhance anti-piracy capacity, such as training, 
technical and financial assistance.  Koji Sekimizu, Director 
of the Maritime Security Division of IMO, acknowledged the 
progress made at the Seoul High-Level Meeting by dealing with 
important issues such as capacity building and the need for 
more coordinated military operations. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
Seoul Statement on Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶9.  On June 10, the ROKG released a &Seoul Statement on 
Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia8 that &encouraged ( 
further action to bring more stability in Somalia and ( 
recognized the importance of assisting capacity building 
efforts for Somalia and its neighboring countries.  In this 
context, Governments, international/regional organizations, 
and other stakeholders should be encouraged to contribute to 
the creation of the International Trust Fund to combat piracy 
to be established following the decision taken by the Contact 
Group.8 
 
-------------------- 
Meeting Participants 
-------------------- 
 
¶10.  The following countries sent representatives: 
Australia, Chile (observer), China, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, 
Eritrea, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, 
 
Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, 
Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, 
Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, 
Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and Yemen. 
 
¶11.  The following intergovernmental organizations sent 
representatives: Combined Maritime Forces, European 
Commission (EC), European Union Naval Forces (EUNAVFOR), 
International Maritime Organization (IMO), International 
Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), League of Arab 
States, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Regional 
Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery 
against Ships in Asia Information Sharing Center (ReCAAP 
ISC), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and 
United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS). 
 
¶12.  The following non-governmental organizations sent 
representatives: BIMCO, International Association of 
Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO), International Chamber 
of Shipping (ICS), International Maritime Bureau (1MB), Oil 
Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF), and 
International Group of P I Clubs (IGP I). 
STANTON