The 4th Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia

September 8, 2009
Japanese

The Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, established as an international cooperation mechanisms based on UN Security Council Resolution for anti-piracy activities off the coast of Somalia, has held three meetings since January 2009.
On September 10, Japan will chair the 4th meeting of the Contact Group in New York (Chairman: Masafumi Ishii, Deputy Director-General, Foreign Policy Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan). Japan has been playing active role in tackling piracy off the coast of Somalia. (“Japan's Actions against Piracy off the Coast of Somalia” is attached for your reference.)
Numerous countries are newly invited to participate and engage in the discussions from this meeting. The participants will hear reports from the four working groups, and are expected to discuss ways for more effective and concerted anti-piracy efforts by the international community, including issues such as operational coordination and the enhancement of legal framework to prosecute pirates.

(Reference 1)

“Japan's Actions against Piracy off the Coast of Somalia” is attached(PDF).

(Reference 2: The previous meetings)

1st meeting: January 14 (New York) (Chair: U.S.)
2nd meeting: March 17 (Cairo) (Chair: Egypt)
3rd meeting: May 29 (New York) (Chair: U.S.)
*The four working groups under the Contact Group have held a number of meetings.

(Reference 3: Four Working Groups)

Improving operational support to counter-piracy operations and establishing a counter-piracy coordination mechanism
Strengthening legal frameworks
Strengthening commercial shipping self-awareness and other capabilities
Pursuing improved diplomatic and public information efforts

(END)