Nine “pirates” arrested by the French, handed over to Puntland
(B2) Nine Somali pirates have been handed over to the Somali authorities in the autonomous region of Puntland near Bosaso (Puntland), the French Ministry of Defense has just announced. They had been intercepted by a French Navy ship off the Gulf of Aden, in international waters 100 nautical miles (approx. 185 km) from the coast, during a control visit. On board their two boats were discovered individual and anti-tank weapons as well as boarding equipment. "The local authorities are committed to prosecuting the pirates and have given the French government every guarantee that these prisoners will be treated in accordance with international conventions," the ministry added. This is thus the concrete illustration of legal rules who should soon be governed by the European Union.
On the French side, we can also note the designation of an "ambassador responsible for coordinating France's action in the international fight against maritime piracy". This is Chantal Poiret who was notably first secretary of the permanent mission to the UN in New York, and ambassador to Azerbaijan and Norway.
(NGV)
