DJIBOUTI-(Xinhua) — The contact group on piracy in Somali waters has been holding its 15th summit in Djibouti since Monday, whose participants include representatives from 10 countries, international organizations and maritime agencies.

With a theme of “Week of Piracy”, the four-day seminar, coming just six months after that of New York, will enable participants to assess the progress made in the fight against piracy.

Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf expressed his country’s firm resolve to work with bilateral and multilateral partners in the war against piracy.

He said since 2009, Djibouti has concluded a number of agreements with partners such as the European Union, NATO, China, Japan and Russia, to boost the war against piracy.

Speakers at the forum said joint efforts had resulted in reduced piracy off Somalia in 2011, and the trend continued in 2012.

“There has been virtually no piracy act in 2013 although the threat still exists. We are convinced that there is a solution to the problem, but we only need to address the security challenge posed to the Somali state,” Djibouti’s chief diplomat said.

The contact group on the fight against piracy in Somali waters is a cooperation mechanism created in 2009 and serves as the platform for sharing of information.

Since its creation in 2009, the contact group has expanded to include more than 70 member countries, international organizations and players in the maritime sector.

Source: Xinhua