UN General Assembly
2009

(IMO) in this regard. However, the measures taken so far have not been sufficient. Almost 60,000 Ukrainian citizens are employed on ships under foreign flags. Any developments on the high seas affect us directly. In the last seven years alone pirates have attacked 18 vessels with Ukrainian sailors on board, and in the last nine months alone 35 Ukrainian sailors have been taken hostage. It is no longer a local problem; it has become very dangerous and threatens us all. We shall not turn a blind eye to it. Ukraine was among the sponsors of IMO resolution A.1002 (25), entitled “Piracy and armed robbery against ships operating in waters off the coast of Somalia”, which laid the ground for further Security Council resolutions in that regard. We strongly support the elaboration of uniform, clear rules to fight pirates and to protect sailors. We are convinced that the General Assembly has to become a coordinating body for the efforts of all specialized institutions in this field. We call for a more active stance by those United