The deployment of the Turkish Naval Forces components that have been conducting the duty of fight against piracy in the Gulf of Aden, Somalian territorial waters and high seas off the coast and adjacent areas since the beginning of 2009, has been extended until 10 February 2015 by the decision of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey adopted on 16 January 2014.

The piracy and piracy incidents are a concern for the international security. This issue does not only threaten the safety of life and property internationally but also affects the international maritime transportation and freedom of navigation. Turkey, attributing special importance to the enhancement of international cooperation in the fight against piracy, supports all efforts in this field. In this context, one Turkish frigate has been serving in the area since 2009.

Turkey has also contributed financially to the Trust Fund established by “the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS)” and was a member of this group in 2013.

Furthermore, Turkey, aware of the fact that the main root causes of piracy do not lie in the seas but on the land, approaches the problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia from a comprehensive perspective, attributes particular importance to the humanitarian and development assistance and contributes to the capacity building efforts as well, in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council.

Turkey, in cooperation with the international community, will continue resolutely to put comprehensive efforts for Somalia and for the people of Somalia in the field of humanitarian, security and development assistance and maintain its contributions in the fight against piracy.