SA naval chief praises Indian Navy's action against pirates
Kochi (PTI): Praising the Indian navy's recent action against Somali pirates, South African Naval Chief Magalefa today said that the entire world should join together to tackle piracy on high seas.
"We should support such an action," Rear Admiral Magalefa said, referring to the Indian navy's action against pirates foiling their attempts to hijack a commercial liner in the Gulf of Aden recently.
Speaking to reporters on board South African warship 'Sas Spioenkop', which arrived here this morning, he said "we cannot as a coastal country be blind and insensitive to the threat of piracy. We are very much concerned with what is happening around the whole of Africa."
"We believe that this problem that is around the whole of Africa and any other such places like the west Africa, it is a problem that the international community must come up and have consensus on how to deal with it," he said, adding "it is not a problem that can be left to one country. It is a problem that the whole world should look at it."
He said, "we do not believe in unilateralism, we believe in multi-lateralism. We should come together as a world and say how do we deal with it."
"... South Africa will not hesitate to get involved ... you can count on us. We will get involved," he said.
Replying to a query, Rear Admiral Megalefa said,
"One must applaud India for its intervention a few days ago."
"One of the issues we will be talking about with India is how best to proceed, may be under the India Brazil South Africa Agreement, which is already there. These issues must be addressed because the threat that is out at sea is threatening the very economic well being of India itself and South Africa as well," he said.
The Hindu News Update Service