[NMS Note: This is an excert from the President's speech pertaining to piracy. The full speech can be found by clicking the Source link at the end of this piece]
Puntland State of Somalia
Garowe
Garowe
H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud (Farole)
President, Puntland State of Somalia
Somalia National Consultative Constitutional Conference Garowe, Puntland State (Somalia)
December 21 – 23, 2011 English Transcript of President’s Speech Delivered in Somali Language
Piracy problems
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, We all recognize that piracy is a global phenomenon that has impacted Somalia and the global order. Piracy has contributed to insecurity in Somalia, through proliferation of weapons, and has impacted local trade by disrupting economic activities. Pirates have taken hostage innocent seafarers and piracy has led to the disruption of regional and international maritime trade. I want to reiterate that Puntland Government continues its commitment to fight against piracy in a combined approach: first, by strengthening internal security measures; and second, by actively engaging local communities. On the security front, I am announcing today that training for the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) is planning to resume. This is in line with the TFG-Puntland Cooperation Agreement of 29 August 2011, which called for the establishment of a Somali Marine Force. We are moving forward with an authorized anti-piracy training program for the PMPF, which is a professional, locally recruited coastal police force that will fight piracy and protect our marine resources. The formation of the PMPF is in direct response to multiple U.N. Security Council Resolutions and urgent calls from the international community, calling on Somali authorities to build security and law enforcement institutions to address the piracy problem. Puntland Government has notified the U.N. Security Council regarding this initiative in accordance with applicable procedures. Further, we are grateful to the U.A.E. for assisting this program and other humanitarian support in Puntland State of Somalia. Our Government is also pursuing a community engagement program to assist with the rehabilitation of reformed pirates. The program features raising community awareness about piracy, promoting skills-development for youth and reformed pirates, and seeking alternative livelihoods particularly in the coastal communities. I would like to conclude my remarks to thank all the organizers and participants of this historic Somali National Constitutional Conference. I would like also to thank the international community at large for providing generous and continuous support to the Somali people during this difficult time of our history, for hosting refugee exodus, for providing humanitarian assistance, and for ongoing efforts to stabilize Somalia. I encourage all Somalis and Conference participants to forgive each other and renew broken trusts. I wish a successful outcome for this Conference, as Somalis from all corners of the world, together with the international community, are waiting for us to deliver a meaningful outcome. Thank you and God bless.This article was posted by Neptune Maritime Security via garoweonline.com. MaritimeSecurity.Asia in cooperation with www.neptunemaritimesecurity.com
