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EU to move action against pirates to Seychelles area

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EU to move action against pirates to Seychelles area Empty EU to move action against pirates to Seychelles area

Post  Sirop14 Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:45 pm

The European Union (EU) is to move its anti-piracy operations further south to the Seychelles region.

Minister Morgan meets Mr Solana

It has also promised to keep up its presence in the Indian Ocean for as long as there is pirate activity in the region.

These pledges were made during recent talks in Brussels between Environment, Natural Resources and Transport Minister Joel Morgan and Javier Solana, the EU’s high representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

Mr Morgan was attending the first meeting of fisheries ministers of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and took the opportunity to stress the serious threat to Seychelles’ economy posed by acts of piracy.

The talks with Mr Solana last Wednesday were held in the presence of Seychelles’ ambassador to the EU Barry Faure and principal secretary for natural resources and transport Veronique Herminie.

The EU’s cooperation on surveillance in view of the continuing pirate activities was discussed, and Mr Morgan assured Mr Solana of Seychelles’ support for the EU’s Navfor operation against piracy.

Mr Morgan explained the concerns of Seychelles should pirate activities continue. He stressed the economic implications for the country and the effects on the fisheries sector and exports to the EU.

Seychelles is in the process of signing a Status of Forces Agreement with the EU, and similar agreements are being negotiated with the US, British and Indian governments.

Mr Solana mentioned that the EU and its allies, including the United Nations, are trying to establish mechanisms for global cooperation and to be more effective collectively. They are most willing to cooperate with Seychelles in an attempt to find a solution to the problem.

Never before has the EU engaged in such a collective military operation involving other nations including the US, Russia, Japan, China and India, he said.

The issues of Somalia and piracy were high on the agenda at a recent conference held by the EU in Brussels, together with the UN. The position of Seychelles on the piracy issue was also discussed by a working group at the EU Council last week.

Mr Morgan and his delegation also met Stefano Manservisi, director-general for development and relations with ACP states in the European Commission (EC), on the same issue and possibilities for cooperation on infrastructure development in the fisheries and maritime sector, especially at ports.

Mr Manservisi confirmed that steps are being taken by the EC to reshape the help given to Seychelles, and that an adhoc review is also being carried out to increase funds to be channelled through budget support, given the macro-economic situation of Seychelles and the added costs incurred as a result of pirate activities.

The meetings were seen as fruitful for both the Seychelles delegation and for the EU representatives, showing the solidarity between the parties on such common issues as piracy and fisheries.

Mr Morgan also gave an interview to Europe by Satellite (EbS), the press service of the European Council, on the issue of piracy and its implications for Seychelles.

This interview can be viewed on the European Commission’s audiovisual service website http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/ebs/schedule.cfm – check the June 3, 5.30pm news.

http://www.nation.sc/index.php?art=16042

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EU to move action against pirates to Seychelles area Empty R11m envelope from EU to ease liberalisation process

Post  Sirop14 Thu Jul 23, 2015 8:42 pm

R11m envelope from EU to ease liberalisation process

23-July-2015

Seychelles and the European Union (EU) yesterday afternoon signed a financial contract which both partners have described as a significant progress of their partnership.

The agreement was signed on the Seychelles side by the principal secretary for foreign affairs, Ambassador Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, while the EU was represented by its head of delegation in Mauritius, Ambassador Aldo Dell’Ariccia. British high commissioner Lindsay Skoll and French ambassador Lionel Majesté Larrouy were also present.

The signing of the contract launches the implementation of a programme which aims at strengthening immediate capacity needs for the implementation of the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA) between the two sides.

Referring to this agreement, the Seychelles party has reiterated its firm commitment to achieving agreed common goals on trade liberalisation, in line with the recent accession of the country to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The programme represents an envelope of 760 000 euros or R11 million intended to provide public as well as private sectors with specific measures to respond to the country’s needs in its trade liberalisation process.

It aims at supporting a progressive opening up of markets between trading partners which will no longer be based on preferential trade regimes, but rather on free market access, product and price competitiveness, and adherence to set norms and standards.

Financed under the 19th European Development Fund Regional Integration Support Programme (RISP), the activities to be implemented through this programme aim at assisting both government and private sector organisations in meeting the requirements of a liberalised market.

The foreseen activities are wide-ranging, covering the entire product chain from identification of new niche export products in which the country has a comparative advantage, to the accreditation of institutions such as the Seychelles Bureau of Standards (SBS) and the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC).

Local capacities in sanitary and phytosanitary standards will also be enforced through the procurement of necessary equipment for the SRC, the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture.

The financial contract follows a high level Political Dialogue between the two sides which took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday morning. The Political Dialogue is part of the Cotonou Agreement signed between the ACP (African Caribbean and Pacific) Group and the EU as a means of boosting sustainable development for those countries. It is considered as one of the main tools for effective Seychelles-EU cooperation.

Yesterday’s dialogue included discussions around topics like, governance, rule of law and human rights, fisheries agreements with the EU, socio-economic reforms, the political situation in the country and upcoming elections. On this last issue, the government of Seychelles has expressed its firm commitment to making every effort to ensure that the elections are credible, free, and transparent, based on an appropriate and consensual legal framework, so as to increase the trust and participation of citizens.

On the protection and promotion of human rights, Seychelles has been encouraged to develop, all possible legal and societal action to achieve the best international standards in this field.

The two parties also addressed the issue of the international organised crime including illegal, unreported and unregulated fisheries and the negative impact that this has on the region.

They also discussed the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between them and stressed the importance of ensuring the legal origin of catches and their sanitary and phytosanitary quality.

Both Seychelles and the EU have expressed their satisfaction on the fact that the action against piracy is an example of highly successful structured international cooperation, allowing creating new capacities and tools in the region and particularly in Seychelles.

It is to be remembered that the EU provides military as well as civilian assistance to help protect the country’s EEZ and address the scourge of piracy in the region. Seychelles’ effort to counter piracy has also been highly appreciated and its commitment has been recognised as it has been given the chairmanship of the international Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia.

It is also in agreement with Seychelles on the need to respect mutual obligations in relation to the impact of the Marine Spatial Planning initiative on fisheries within Seychelles EEZ. They are both of the opinion that this initiative is an important step to consolidate the country's capacities to deal with the critical issue of climate adaptation, while alleviating the burden of the external debt through the debt for nature swap agreed with the Paris Club creditors. In reference to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, both sides agreed on the importance that all participants of the XXI Conference of the Parties to be held in December 2O15 in Paris (COP21) commit themselves to achieving the objectives for a better global future.

Other than the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport Joel Morgan who led the country’s delegation, Seychelles was represented by senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, Trade and the Blue Economy, the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change and the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture.

Through their representatives, the Republic of Seychelles and the EU have welcomed what they have called an important dialogue as a step further in the deepening of their relationship which they add are characterised by the quality and frankness of the discussions.

“This agreement paves the way for greater success in our partnership with the European Union. I measure this success by the dialogue we have had this morning and by what our cooperation has permitted us to do together until now. This document gives us the possibility, through the financial support of the European Union, to enhance our national competencies in various aspects, especially human and technical capacity in order to meet the requirements of the IEPA, and for this agreement to become a success. It is something very important for Seychelles because it gives the country the possibility to move on in its development. It will stimulate more the local economy especially through exchanges in the business sector, presenting the opportunity to meet our vision of people-centered economic development,” commented Joel Morgan, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport.

Both Seychelles and the EU view the Political Dialogue as another indicator of excellent bilateral relations. They have agreed to convene the next session in June 2016.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=246149

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EU to move action against pirates to Seychelles area Empty Defence Forces Day

Post  Sirop14 Wed Nov 25, 2015 3:31 pm


Defence Forces Day

25-November-2015
Exhibition traces history of SPDF
The evolution of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) is being showcased through an exhibition of pictures organised as part of activities to mark Defence Forces Day.

Defence Forces Day is celebrated annually since 1982 on November 25 to celebrate the victory of the SPDF over a group of mercenaries who came to attack the country.

Among other activities to mark Defence Forces Day this year are a wreath laying ceremony at the Victory Monument at Pointe Larue and community work.

A mass was held on Sunday to kick-start the activities.

Present at the opening of the exhibition yesterday at the Espace building were Vice-President Danny Faure, Chief of Defence Forces Brigadier Leopold Payet, Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Michael Rosette, among other invited guests and members of the defence forces.

It was Lt Col. Rosette who had the honour of officially opening the exhibition.

“This exhibition traces back our history since our creation in 1977. It demonstrates our transformation from the Seychelles People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) to the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF). This professional force is self-motivated and very motivated to defend our country,” he said.

He added that since the formation of the defence forces in Seychelles many changes have been undertaken to develop the condition and abilities of its members.

“Like any other forces in the world, the SPDF has seen many changes and adaptation, we went through different stages, yes we had some rigid moments but we are still solid and still present to celebrate our Defence Forces Day,” added Lt Col. Rosette.

He pointed out that the existence of defence forces is not just to create war but to bring peace and harmony among the population and also to safeguard the country and its people and to contribute towards the development of the country.

This year the SPDF decided to produce an official calendar for the year 2016 in the form of desk planner, which will be distributed to all SPDF officers.

The first copy of the calendar was given to VP Faure by Brigadier Payet.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=247617

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=247618

Comment - We have had this person staking us at the place we stay - when strange/bad things happen what the authorities and media write - there are cameras where we are working/space of work IT


Sirop14

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EU to move action against pirates to Seychelles area Empty SCG intercepts 15 foreigners suspected of illegal fishing

Post  Sirop14 Mon Nov 30, 2015 5:22 pm

SCG intercepts 15 foreigners suspected of illegal fishing

30-November-2015
Fifteen foreigners suspected of illegal fishing in Seychelles waters have been arrested.

They were escorted to Port Victoria last week after they were intercepted by the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) and rangers from the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF).

According to a statement issued this weekend, the SCG said the 15 foreigners were spotted by one of its patrol vessels base on Aldabra last week.

The public relations officer of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF), Major Jean Attala, told Seychelles NATION that the suspects are now in police custody while investigation into the incident continues.

The Seychelles archipelago consists of 115 widely-spread coral and granitic islands, and the nation’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) covers a vast 1.3 million square kilometres of ocean, an area which is often difficult to police for illegal fishing activities.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=247670

Seychelles holds first-ever naval fleet review

30-November-2015
Seychelles showcased its naval might through a first-ever naval fleet review held on Saturday off the coast of Beau Vallon.

Nine vessels of the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) – four patrol ships and five fast response boats –, along with two marine patrol aircraft, took part in this exercise which formed part of activities to mark this year’s Defence Forces Day.

Held each year since 1982, the Defence Forces Day is to commemorate the successful repulsion by the Seychelles defence forces of a mercenary invasion on November 25, 1981.


http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=247672

Sirop14

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EU to move action against pirates to Seychelles area Empty EUCAP Nestor donation to boost crime detection

Post  Sirop14 Tue Dec 15, 2015 9:49 am

EUCAP Nestor donation to boost crime detection

15-December-2015

The EUCAP Nestor has donated several pieces of equipment aimed at boosting the capacity of the Seychelles Maritime Police Unit in detecting crime.
The donation came ahead of the EUCAP Nestor’s closing of its country office here after three years of engagement (see lead story).
It was the Commissioner of Police Ernest Quatre who accepted the donation from EUCAP Nestor head of country Bo Holtse, in the presence of high officers of the Seychelles Police Force, international dignitaries and EUCAP Nestor’s staff.
The equipment include boat GPS & radar, defibrillators, boat central unit, as well as many navigation type of equipment that will benefit the Seychelles Maritime Police Unit.
“EUCAP Nestor has been a true friend to our force and nation. For example, your pivotal role in the setting up and empowerment of the Seychelles Maritime Police Unit, especially in the training aspect, have been of tremendous benefit to our coastal security,” he said.
Commissioner Quatre also took time to thank EUCAP Nestor for such generosity they have brought to the Seychelles Police Force.
“I would like to thank you for this donation as well as for all your past contribution. I am sure that the close bonds which exist between our two organisations will continue to grow from strength to strength in the future,” he added.
Mr Holtse said the EUCAP Nestor is very satisfied with the collaboration it has had over the past years with Seychelles.
“We are pleased to have been supportive of Seychelles in the past two years, and today we honour the Seychelles Maritime Police Unit so that it can be better equipped to do its job,” Mr Holtse added.
The Seychelles Maritime Police Unit will also have two patrol boats which will be donated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The two boats are already on a cargo boat bound for Seychelles. It is expected by the end of December or the first week of January 2016.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=247846

EUCAP Nestor - Mission accomplished
http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=247847

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EU to move action against pirates to Seychelles area Empty Extended Continental Shelf in the Mascarene Plateau Region

Post  Sirop14 Wed Mar 30, 2016 7:18 pm

Extended Continental Shelf in the Mascarene Plateau Region

30-March-2016
Seychelles launches logo competition
The Seychelles/Mauritius Joint Commission of the Extended Continental Shelf is inviting citizens of Seychelles and Mauritius to take part in a competition to design a logo for the Joint Management Area (JMA). The logo will be adopted for the JMA official communication.
A cash prize of US $2,000 will be awarded to the best selected entry while the second best entry will be awarded US $1,000.The closing date for the submission of the logo is May 31, 2016.
Logo should be in vector format and high definition JPEG, TIFF or PNG (at least 300dpi), should contain a maximum of four colours, should be submitted in colour A4 size together with a reduced version of size 3cm x 3cm in black and white and in digital format, and should be suitable for use online and in print.
Entries from citizens of Seychelles should be addressed to: Principal Secretary
The Blue Economy Department, Ministry of Finance, Trade and the Blue Economy
PO Box 313, Liberty House, Victoria.
Email: psbe@finance.gov.sc
Conditions for participation
(i) the competition is open only to individuals aged between 15 to 25 years, and who are citizens of either Seychelles or Mauritius;
(ii) each participant can submit a maximum of two entries;
(iii) the logo(s) submitted should be the original work of the participants and free from any copyright;
(iv) by entering in the competition, participants acknowledge that they have assigned copyright of their logo(s) to the Joint Commission;
(v) the logo(s) should be accompanied by a brief explaining the features and significances of the design;
(vi) the decision of the Jury shall be final;
(vii) the Joint Commission reserves the right not to make any award as a result of this competition;
(viii) the selected logo will become the property of the Joint Commission which reserves the right to use it in various forms and formats;
(ix) the designer of the selected logo should modify or further improve it, at no extra cost, should the Joint Commission so decide; and
(x) entries submitted will not be returned to participants.
Submission of entries
(i) each logo should be signed by individual participant(s)
(ii) the name, residential address, telephone number and e-mail address of each participant together with the pseudonym used should be submitted in a separate sealed envelope, together with the logo, in a main envelope. The main envelope shall clearly mention “Logo Competition – Extended Continental Shelf in the Mascarene Plateau Region”.
About the Joint Management Area
In March 2011, the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) adopted recommendations confirming the entitlement of the Republic of Seychelles and of the Republic Mauritius to 396,000 Km2 of Extended Continental Shelf in the Mascarene Plateau Region.
A coastal state exercises over its continental shelf sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring it and exploiting its natural resources. The natural resources consist of the mineral and other non-living resources of the seabed and subsoil, together with living organisms belonging to sedentary species.
The endorsement by the CLCS of the joint submission of Seychelles and Mauritius gave them access to an additional area where resources such as oil and gas reserves, mineral deposits and living marine organisms may be explored and exploited, which will help future generations of both countries.
The Treaty signed between the two States provides an effective and equitable framework to govern the joint management of the extended continental shelf through a three-tiered joint administrative structure consisting of a Ministerial Council, a Joint Commission and a Designated Authority.
The Ministerial Council shall consist of an equal number of ministers designated by each State and shall consider any matter relating to the operation of the Treaty.
The Joint Commission shall consist of an equal number of commissioners appointed by Seychelles and Mauritius and shall establish policies and regulations relating to petroleum and other natural resource activities in the joint zone and shall oversee the work of the Designated Authority.
The Designated Authority shall be responsible to the Joint Commission and shall carry on the day-to-day regulation and management of natural resource activities within the joint zone.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=248904

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EU to move action against pirates to Seychelles area Empty Seychelles to host major anti-piracy conference

Post  Sirop14 Fri May 13, 2016 9:26 am

Seychelles to host major anti-piracy conference

13-May-2016
Seychelles will later this month host a major anti-piracy conference which will be attended by high government personalities and other key representatives of regional countries concerned by the issue of piracy.
The United Nations (UN) Security Council has mandated that the 19th Plenary of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) will start officially on May 31 at the International Conference Centre (ICCS) and it will closely follow on the historic visit of the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to our islands.
It was at the 18th Plenary meeting of the group, at the United Nations headquarters in New York City that delegates of the CGPCS agreed to a proposal by the European Union (EU) that Seychelles as a regional leader in the Indian Ocean, should take up the chairmanship and secretariat, with the EU handing this over to Seychelles on January 1 this year.
Since the handover, Seychelles held a strategy meeting on February 1 in Mumbai, India where it welcomed the decision to reduce the High Risk Area (HRA) in the Indian Ocean, and this came into effect on December 1 last year following intense discussions by trade representatives of the shipping industry, insurance companies, and other contact group members.
The Mumbai meeting, hosted by the Indian government, provided an opportunity for contact group members to support holding their 19th meeting in Seychelles under the theme ‘From the Region to the Region; Creating a Lasting Legacy’.
Raymond St Ange, the head of the CGPCS here, said the preparations for the conference is well underway and high level delegations from the region and beyond have confirmed their involvement.
He said locally representatives from the leisure and yachting industry, shipping, insurance, seafarers association, naming but a few have been invited to attend the opening of the conference.
The CGPCS secretariat confirmed that at this time there is commitment for several naval ships from contact group member states to be present in Port Victoria during the four-day plenary, providing an interesting backdrop for the anti-piracy meeting.
The secretariat also confirmed that Liam Webber of M&C SAATCHI will make an important presentation on strategic communications and its effects in Somalia. This is expected to be hosted onboard one of the visiting naval vessels.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=249406

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EU to move action against pirates to Seychelles area Empty Interested parties learn more on ongoing counter-piracy efforts

Post  Sirop14 Tue May 31, 2016 1:55 pm

Interested parties learn more on ongoing counter-piracy efforts

31-May-2016

The audience listening to a presentation onboard the FGS Bayern yesterday


Students from the University of Seychelles, representative of the seamen association, the Seychelles Coast Guard, the police force and other interested parties yesterday afternoon learned more on the EUNAVFOR operations around the coasts of Somalia as well as ongoing ‘Strategic Communications to Counter Piracy in Somalia’.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=249622

Anti-piracy meeting starts today in Seychelles
http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=249621

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EU to move action against pirates to Seychelles area Empty Re: EU to move action against pirates to Seychelles area

Post  Sirop14 Mon Apr 29, 2019 7:49 pm

After pirate attack off Somalia, judge orders that 5 suspects are held in Seychelles
Victoria, Seychelles | April 29, 2019, Monday @ 17:13 in National » GENERAL | By: Betymie Bonnelame and Rassin Vannier | Views: 522
http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/10897/After+pirate+attack+off+Somalia%2C+judge+orders+that++suspects+are+held+in+Seychelles

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