New Delhi, Mar 28: Somalia today assured India that it will do everything possible to get 53 Indian hostages released from pirates in that country, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said.
He said India has also offered to help Somalia implement job generating projects to tackle piracy in the African nation.
These issues came up for discussion between Krishna and visiting Somalian Deputy Prime Minister Abdiweli Ali during a meeting here.
“We have suggested to the Somalian government through the Deputy Prime Minister (Somalia) that they should endeavour to create more jobs by taking up projects which Government of India will be willing to help them in implementing,” Krishna told reporters here.
He said the projects should employ “these young men and women especially in these coastal areas where piracy is rampant.”
“I did bring about the issue of 53 of our hostages with the pirates. And I have requested the good offices of the Somalian transitional government be used for the release of these Indian hostages,” Krishna said, adding that Ali has assured him that everything possible would be done to get them released.
Krishna also said Somalia was willing to work with India to tackle the menace and that Ali believes that piracy basically stems out from social restlessness and unemployment, which is very high in that country.
“One of the main concerns that I shared with him was the menace of piracy carried out by the Somalian pirates. He agreed it is a matter of grave concern to them also and they are willing to work with India to work out a strategy” to tackle the problem, Krishna said.
On piracy, Ali said “It is a great menace. It is an international menace. And we have to have a common strategy and we have to have a common front against this menace.” “This piracy has not only become a Somalian problem but also regional problem and also now an international problem....So the solution does not lie with just the Somalian government,” he said.
Talking about Indian hostages, Ali said: “My government will not reserve any efforts to bring them back to their families. We are trying our level best to bring them back safe and sound to India.”
Asked about the over 100 Somalian pirates that are under custody here, a issue that was discussed in today's meeting, Krishna said the law of the land will take its own course. PTI
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