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Russian anti-piracy mission remains in Gulf of Aden

In 2008-2013, Russian navy combat ships had conducted 19 campaigns in the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa

MOSCOW, October 22 (Itar-Tass) - Russia's navy will continue its anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden next year, a navy spokesperson told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

“Next year, combat ships of the Russian navy will continue carrying out tasks of naval presence in the Gulf of Aden and on the Horn of Africa with a view to ensuring security of navigation and preventing pirate attacks on non-combat ship,” he said. “The presence of our ships in these waters will be based on planned job rotation with the participation of all fleets.”

“Leading convoys through potentially dangerous areas will be the main method,” he added.

The spokesman said that “in 2008-2013, Russian navy combat ships had conducted 19 campaigns in the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa that had led 148 convoys in a total amount of 717 civil ships of various class and nationality through the areas of potential pirate threat”. The ships had prevented nine attempted attacks there.

Navy command believes its counter-piracy mission has proved efficient and contributed to reducing pirate activity in the area.