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Turkey extends anti-piracy mission off Somalia

Xinhua, February 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

Turkish parliament on Tuesday adopted a motion to extend a mandate of Turkish naval missions to participate in international anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden for another year.

In 2009, the Turkish parliament gave the government authority to send units of the Turkish Naval Forces to the Gulf of Aden and adjacent waters to contribute to NATO's anti-piracy mission, according to a UN Security Council decision taken in 2008.

The mission has already been extended several times. The Turkish Navy mission protects the Turkish merchant ships sailing in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast against pirates that often hijack commercial ships.

Speaking at the parliament discussions for the motion on Tuesday, the ruling Justice and Development Party lawmaker Ahmet Berat Conkar said in total 26 operations since 2009, Turkish Navy has defused 179 pirates in the region. Endit