ROYG ASKS FOR ANTI-PIRACY SUPPORT

UNCLAS SANAA 001531 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARP:AMACDONALD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT PREL PTER MCAP YM SUBJECT: ROYG ASKS FOR ANTI-PIRACY SUPPORT ¶1. Deputy Prime Minister for Defense and Security Affairs Rashad al-Alimi chaired an ambassadorial level meeting on September 10 to urge international support for the ROYG's anti-piracy efforts. Joining al-Alimi were the Ministers of Defense, Interior and Transport. He emphasized the importance of establishing a joint regional piracy reporting center in Aden and called for additional money and equipment from donor countries to support Yemen's stressed maritime resources. Yemeni Coast Guard Chief BG Ali Raasa asked for more patrol ships and help to expand Coast Guard stations. Yemen will host the next International Maritime Organization conference in October and a November meeting to develop a plan to deliver support to regional actors. ¶2. COMMENT. The meeting seemed designed to convey the message that, its limited resources notwithstanding, the ROYG is prepared to take the lead to coordinate the international effort to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden. If Yemen is to become an effective leader, however, the ROYG will need help to strengthen its other anti-piracy resources rather than relying so heavily on its well-financed, but already overburdened, Coast Guard. END COMMENT. SECHE