United Nations Radio

The UN Security Council has deplored and condemned all acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea against vessels off the coast of Somalia.

In a unanimous resolution Tuesday, the council again called upon "all States interested in the security of maritime activities to take part actively in the fight against piracy on the high seas off the coast of Somalia," particularly "by deploying naval vessels and military aircraft."

The resolution urged States whose naval vessels and military aircraft operate on the high seas and airspace off the coast of Somalia to use the necessary means, in conformity with international law for the repression of acts of piracy.

The representative of France Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert welcomed the adoption of the resolution.

"This resolution 1838 is very precisely and clearly calling on the member States of the United Nations to fight by any means under Chapter 7, the pirates. W answered also to a call of the Somali authorities who had sent a letter to the Security Council asking and requesting for this assistance by the international community to fight the pirates off the coast of Somalia and in the high sea off the coast of Somalia."

Ambassador Ripert says more than 3.5 million people in Somalia depend only on the World Food Programme for their food.

And he says the resolution sends a clear signal to pirates.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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