SUBJECT: URGENT MEETING OF CONTACT GROUP ON

UNCLAS STATE 042291 SIPDIS ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR ECON POL SUBJECT: SUBJECT: URGENT MEETING OF CONTACT GROUP ON PIRACY OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIA ¶1. The United States will call for an urgent meeting of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) in New York City in late May. Department is aware that the Secretary,s recent remarks on this meeting have generated keen interest in CGPCS capitals as well as the media. We will forward details on the date and venue of the meeting as soon as we have confirmed these details, and will ask that you encourage active participation by capitals in this meeting. ¶2. The U.S. agenda for the plenary is to forge greater international agreement on measures required to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa, to include engagement of and incentives for Somali authorities to combat piracy; continuing robust assistance to the Somali security institutions and the African Union Mission in Somalia; additional counter-piracy forces to augment forces in the region; adoption by international missions and nations of rules of engagement and national policies that will support pirate detention and prosecution; exploring the feasibility of tracking and freezing pirate assets; pressing victim states to accept responsibility for prosecuting pirates; urging the commercial shipping industry to improve ship self-protection and develop incentives for the insurance industry to support investment in such capability; and pressing nations to promote No Concessions policies to deny pirates the benefits of concessions that fuel this pernicious activity. ¶3. Department points of contact on this issue are Donna Hopkins, PM/PPA, 202-647-0792, hopkinsdl@state.gov or David Foran, PM/PPA, 202-647-7162, forandm@state.gov. CLINTON