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On November 19, 2012, at the UN Security Council debate on piracy Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaitė, Lithuanian Premanent Representative to the UN, stressed that the impact of piracy extended far beyond economic or commercial dimensions, as it undermined security and good order at sea and posed a threat to state and regional stability, and that this as well as wide geography of piracy called for an integrated common approach to deal with the threat.

Statement by Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaitė,

Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the United Nations,

at the open debate of the UN Security Council on

"Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Piracy"

New York, 19 November 2012

Mr. President,

Allow me to begin by congratulating the Indian Presidency of the Security Council for the month of November and commending you for convening this debate on the efforts to suppress piracy, to which my country attaches great importance. 

The impact of piracy extends far beyond economic or commercial dimensions, as it undermines security and good order at sea and poses a threat to state and regional stability. This and its wide geography call for an integrated common approach to deal with the threat.

The experience of tackling piracy in Somalia and in the Gulf of Guinea points to a number of critical elements, as referred to in relevant Security Council resolutions: namely, co-operation, implementation, and comprehensive approach.

Regional and international co-operation has been a key element of countering piracy. Complementarity and interaction of global and regional counter-piracy efforts are important.

Regional efforts on maritime security mechanisms, law enforcement co-ordination, and intelligence sharing are essential and must be supported by the UN and regional organizations.

Successful examples are the adoption of the Djibouti Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, the operational co-ordination between the states of the Gulf of Guinea, as well as the implementation of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP). 

Lithuania is participating in the work of Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, a multi-stakeholder involving more than sixty states and organizations.  The Group’s mandate is limited to Somalia, but its work has been instrumental in improving the overall understanding of the phenomenon of piracy and the ways to counter it. Some of its accomplishments, especially in complex legal matters, might well be used as a source of reference in other situations. 

Bringing to justice those responsible for acts of piracy is a cornerstone of the whole framework of anti-piracy efforts. We note the continuing gap between the obligations of Member States and the implementation of these obligations. 

Lithuania believes that increased support is required to programmes and initiatives which would speed up the criminalization of piracy, prosecution and imprisonment, and would impede the ability of pirates to operate from land and at sea. Furthermore, countering piracy requires concerted efforts to prosecute its financiers and organizers. 

A comprehensive approach is required if the international efforts to counter piracy are to bear fruit. Lithuania supports counter-piracy efforts that integrate deterrence by naval forces, strengthening the rule of law, building regional capabilities, providing for economic development, and co-ordinating law enforcement.

At the national level, the Lithuanian Parliament is to adopt amendments to the Criminal Code, which will address piracy in a comprehensive manner and will also establish the universal jurisdiction over such crimes.  

Besides current participation in the EU NAVFOR naval operation ATALANTA mandated by the UN Security Council and a national element in the Operational Headquarters in the United Kingdom, Lithuania intends to deploy, in the second half of 2013, off the coast of Somalia an autonomous vessel protection detachment, mandated to provide protection to World Food Programme vessels delivering food aid for displaced persons in Somalia.

Finally, I wish to refer to the issue of hostages, raised in India’s concept paper. Like many other countries, Lithuania had to deal with the situation in 2009 and 2010, when its ships were hijacked in the Gulf of Guinea.  We need to pay more attention to the situation of hostages and sharing the best practices and experience of tackling such crises.

I thank you, Mr. President.