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France calls for international action vs piracy off Somalia
 France has called on the international community for a unified action against piracy, after French military secured the release of 30 hostages from a luxury yacht off the lawless Somali coast. "The international community must mobilize for a determined fight against acts of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia," French Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner said in a statement released by the French embassy in Manila Wednesday.Kouchner stressed the significance of ensuring security in the Arabian Sea, saying humanitarian ships pass through the area. He said France has initiated Operation Alycon to escort ships from the World Food Program. France considers it necessary to go further, especially at the United Nations, he said. Discussions have started in New York with our partners to move forward on this." The 30 crew of French-registered Le Ponant -- six Filipinos, 22 French, a Cameroonian and a Ukrainian -- were freed Friday following negotiations that ended the standoff peacefully. Somali pirates seized them on April 4. Six of the 12 Somali pirates were captured by French commandos following the release of the hostages. Sources close to the negotiations said the boat owner, Compagnie des Iles du Ponant, paid some $2 million to free the 30, and that a portion of the money was recovered when the six pirates were detained. French Defense Minister Herve Morin on Saturday said Paris would no longer tolerate extortion attempts. Kouchner also expressed "great joy" that the Le Ponant crewmembers have been released and are safe. "I am delighted at this happy outcome. My first thoughts go to the families and loved ones of our compatriots, and the other crewmembers who will soon be with theirs, he said. I also want to extend my warm thanks to all those who helped resolve this crisis." The freed crewmembers were flown to Paris Tuesday and the six Filipinos, including a female cabin steward, arrived in Manila on Wednesday. Somalia has been without an effective government since the 1991 ousting of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre. Posted by: Fred 2008-04-17 |
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