India Vows to Contribute to Int'l Efforts to Tackle Piracy

NEW DELHI (NNN-Xinhua) -- India has pledged to contribute to international efforts to tackle the threat of piracy and armed robbery at sea and for the safety and release of hostages taken by pirates, reported Indo-Asian News Service Thursday.

Indian delegate Dushyant Singh said during a UN Security Council meeting Wednesday that "India stands ready to contribute to international efforts aimed at increasing effective cooperation among States to tackle the threat of piracy," said the report.

The debate on Wednesday was aimed at the emerging threat in the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic.

"India has been at the forefront of highlighting the menace of piracy off the coast of Somalia and stressing the urgent need for the international community to work towards a comprehensive counter-piracy strategy," said Singh, also a member of the Indian Parliament.

"India is also concerned about new surge in piracy and maritime robbery in the Gulf of Guinea," he said. "While the two situations are different in proportion at this stage, it is quite possible that the failure of the international community to act decisively against piracy off the coast of Somalia could have spawned a new surge in piracy in the Gulf of Guinea." -- NNN-XINHUA