London, UK, March 13, 2010 – His Excellency Dr. Jubarah Bin Eid Alsuraisry, Minister of Transport of Saudi Arabia (pictured left), today signed the Code of Conduct on the Suppression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden (Djibouti Code of Conduct). The agreement, signed during an official visit to IMO Headquarters in London, makes the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia the 13th country to do.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, following the instructions of King Abdullah, exerts every effort to build bridges of co-operation with countries all over the world, especially by taking initiatives and participating in an effective way in order to achieve stability and world security, whether through the United Nations and its specialized agencies, or through continuous co-operation with all countries in this field,” Alsuraisry said. 

IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos (pictured right) welcomed the signing by Saudi Arabia as a boost to the effective implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct in the region. He said, “The unabated acts of piracy, not only in waters off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden but also in the wider expanse of the western Indian Ocean, continue to be in the public spotlight.” 

“Our concern should, above all, be for the safety of life at sea and the well-being of the seafarers and other victims involved and their respective families. We should, therefore, not rest unless and until all the necessary measures to suppress and eradicate piracy have been taken,” Mitropoulos added. “The support of Saudi Arabia for the effective implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct and for the efforts to protect international shipping by the naval forces deployed in the region are, therefore, important contributions.” 

Source: Seatradeasia.com

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