NEXT STEPS ON PIRACY OFF SOMALIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 001067 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2012 TAGS: SO PGOV IMO KCRM UNSC SUBJECT: NEXT STEPS ON PIRACY OFF SOMALIA REF: A) USUN 01057 B) USUN 1041 C) SECSTATE 152837 Classified By: AMBASSADOR ALEJANDRO D. WOLFF, DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESEN TATIVE FOR REASONS 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paras 2-3. ¶2. (C) Per reftels, at the request of Ambassador Khalilzad, Secretary General Ban transmitted to the Security Council SIPDIS letters from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) requesting the Council's further engagement to help combat acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships off the coast of Somalia and elsewhere. USUN raised the issue in Council consultations on Somalia on November 19, welcoming the July 5 letter from IMO Secretary General Mitropoulos calling for a new resolution on the matter. The British and French missions contacted USUN following consultations to express readiness to consider a text. The French also asked for more details regarding our reference to joint anti-piracy efforts via Combined Task Force 150. ¶3. (C) USUN requests further guidance soonest on next steps, including if appropriate, elements for a possible resolution referred to in ref c we may share with the British and French missions. Khalilzad