Moves to tackle sea piracy in sub-regionDIGGING deep into preventive diplomacy, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) yesterday sued for national reconciliation in Guinea by calling for full dialogue with all parties involved in the Guinean political crisisConsequently, the Commission said in Abuja that it has dispatched a Special Envoy, Edem Kodjo, to Guinea in its effort to move national dialogue forward, preferring that the team interact with the country's President, Alpha Conde and other key political leaders on the current situation in the country.Also, in line with the provisions of the United Nations (UN) and in recognition of the damage, which the phenomenon is doing to the littoral states in the sub-region, ECOWAS has set in motion a machinery to checkmate sea piracy in the sub-region.To this end, a summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government is being planned in the first quarter of 2012 to get the political support of regional leaders behind the body's effort to combat the menace of piracy in a holistic manner.According to the ECOWAS Commission President, Victor Gbeho, 'it has now become imperative for member-states to cooperate with the renewed efforts, which should also allow for greater inter-state coordination of crack down activities.'Gbeho, while conferring with a seven-member multi-disciplinary UN mission on a visit to West Africa to discuss UN support to regional efforts at addressing the scourge in Abuja, said: 'Piracy is not a new thing but has recently assumed unacceptable proportions mainly because of unsatisfactory social conditions.'A list of the members of the political class and other personalities that the ECOWAS mission interacted with on the Guinean crisis made available to The Guardian yesterday included leaders of the main opposition parties, Messrs Cellou Dalein Diallo and Sidya Toure.Others were the First Vice-Chair of the National Transition Council, Monseigneur Gomez; former Prime Minister under the Transition, Jean-Mari Dore, former and current ministers, UN officials, and a host of other important stakeholders.According to the Commission, 'the interactions opened the way to the first face-to-face meeting among the key political leaders since the November 2010 presidential election.'The Commission is greatly encouraged by news of the rapidly improving relations among the leadership of the political class following that clear-the-air meeting, and urges them to continue to pursue the path of dialogue towards national reconciliation with enthusiasm and vigour.'While expressing its pleasure with the significant breakthrough and congratulating the leaders for their courage and statesmanship, the ECOWAS Commission said it wishes to 'encourage them to persevere in the spirit of the renewed trust and cooperation in order to forge a national consensus and sustainable peace, as they strive to tackle the myriad security and developmental challenges confronting the nation.
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