[30/June/2009]

ADEN, June 30 (Saba)- Yemen continues efforts to limit piracy and smuggling human beings and drugs via its coasts in the Gulf of Aden sector.

Minister of Transport Khaled al-Wazir, along with Deputy Interior Minister Saleh Azza'rori and Italian ambassador in Sana'a Mario Bofo, launched last week radar stations in the Gulf of Aden's Coast Guards Authority.

The stations include improved techniques contain radar observation stations, call for help system and ship acquaintance system, in addition to developed telecommunication system and air metrological stations.

The Radar Stations Project is composed of four phases to be able to cover all Yemeni coasts with total cost of € 20 million provided to Yemen as soft loan from Italian government. Every station can cover 42 km.

In inauguration ceremony, Minister of Transport Khaled al-Wazir indicated the first phase of the Ship Services Project, started three years ago, reflects cooperation between governments of Yemen and Italy. The project provides anti-piracy services and maritime security and safety. It works on limiting drugs trafficking considering Yemen a basic partner in fighting piracy and securing international waterways.

He made it clear that improving ship services comes as an implementation of international treaty for protection of marine lives, 1978, indicating improving coast guards authority's work will work on securing navigation and protecting marine lives and environment, coasts and other marine locations.

The minister touched upon the significant of modern technology of these stations in securing navigation, fighting terrorism, limiting piracy, drugs trafficking and illegal transportation via sea. He highlighted achievements of coast guards forces during the past short period since establishing it due to strategic location of Yemen.

He highlighted support provided by Italian government to Yemen to carry out this important project which confirms developing of Yemeni- Italian relations through ages.

"Yemen suffers more from economic burdens due to increase of piracy coming from Somali coasts due to instability in this country," said the minister.

Meanwhile, deputy interior minister Hasan Azawa'ri affirmed importance of coast surveillance system on navigation in Yemen's regional waters. He indicated that this vital project represents real embodiment of aspects of cooperation and coordination between the two governments.

He highlighted support of Italian government to improve performance of coast guards by providing the authority technical equipments and training its staff.

For his part, Italian ambassador affirmed Yemeni- Italian historical relations started in 1926 and witnessing continuous development. He affirmed also his government's support to Yemen considering launching radar stations as a fruit of mutual cooperation.

He highlighted Yemen's unity saying, it represents basic foundation to security and stability of the region.

"Italian government sees in Yemen's stability and protecting its unity necessary issue to security and stability on regional and international level due to geographical location the country enjoys," he said.

Earlier, Chairman of Yemeni Coast Guards Authority Ali Rase'a stated that launching the first part of the first stage of securing Yemeni ports and international navigation by installing radar stations is in line with prepared plan to this purpose to secure regional waters against outlaw acts.

The radar stations are three installed in Jabal Ain in Attuwahi area, Ma'asheeq in Crater and training center in Khour Maksar. They are all linked to control center located in the authority's management in Mualla to be linked to coast guards authority in Sana'a. They are controlled by microwave network.




Saba