SOMALIA: LETTER TO THE SECRETARIAT ON USG EFFORTS

UNCLAS STATE 011320

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM PHSA EWWT KCRM SO XA XW
SUBJECT: SOMALIA: LETTER TO THE SECRETARIAT ON USG EFFORTS
TO STEM SOMALIA PIRACY


1. USUN is instructed to deliver the following letter to the
Department of Political Affairs in response to their
inquiry of January 28 asking for additional information
concerning USG anti-piracy activities off the coast of
Somalia. The Department understands an earlier letter
containing the communique issued by the Contact Group on
Piracy off the Coast of Somalia has yet to be approved by
USUN/FO. Once this is sent to the Security Council
President and becomes a Security Council document, please
fill in the corresponding document number in paragraph 4
of the below document. USUN should determine which principal
is most appropriate to sign the letter.

Begin letter:

Dear Assistant Secretary General Menkerios:

I have the honor to refer to your facsimile of January 28,
2008 (DPKO/ADII/2009/098) where you requested more
information about Combined Task Force 151 and any additional
information concerning anti-piracy activities the United
States Government has conducted since September 16, 2008.

The United States continues to be deeply concerned about the
threat posed by acts of piracy and armed robbery at
sea off the coast of Somalia. We are committed to working
with the Transitional Federal Government and the
international community to counter the scourge of piracy off
Somalia's coast.

The United States has worked closely with our partners on the
Security Council in unanimously
adopting resolutions 1838, 1846, and 1851, all related to
fighting piracy in Somalia and off its coast.

Resolution 1851 encouraged all states and regional
organizations fighting piracy and armed robbery at sea off
the coast of Somalia to establish an international
cooperation mechanism to act as a common point of contact.
On January 15, in response to this call from the Security
Council, the United States hosted the inaugural meeting of
the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS)
in New York. The first meeting of the CGPCS was attended by
24 states and five international and regional organizations.
The CGPCS issued a joint communiqu at the successful
conclusion to the meeting that further explains the group and
its objectives. This communiqu was distributed as a
Security Council document on (SC document #). The
United States has volunteered to chair the CGPCS' working
group on strengthening shipping industries' self-awareness
and other capabilities. On January 16, the United States and
the Republic of Kenya signed a Memorandum of Understanding
that will facilitate the prosecution and incarceration in
Kenya of pirate suspects that have been interdicted by U.S.
forces. The United States is extremely grateful to Kenya for
its efforts to ensure suspected pirates are brought to
justice, and is exploring the possibility of reaching
similar arrangements with other states in the region.

Operationally, the United States continues to act to fight
piracy off the coast of Somalia. On January 13, 2009, the
Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) established Combined Task
Force (CTF) 151. This task force was created specifically
to deter and disrupt piracy off the Somali coast. CTF 151
continues to patrol the Maritime Security Patrol Area
(MSPA) referred to in Ambassador Khalilzad's letter to the
Security Council President of September 16. CTF 151 is
currently comprised of U.S. and UK naval assets; and we have
indications that several other international partners will
provide naval assets upon gaining the national authority to
do so. CTF 151 is prepared to coordinate and de-conflict
coalition and international ships and aircraft in the region
to deter and disrupt piracy.

I hope this information is useful to you. We look forward to
the Secretary General's report on ways to ensure the
long-term security of international navigation off the coast
of Somalia.

Sincerely,

Ambassador Rice/Wolff/DiCarlo

End letter
CLINTON