M & C
Monday, December 22, 2008
A Germany Navy frigate, the Karlsruhe, is set to leave the German base in Djibouti on Tuesday to join Operation Atalanta. Vice-Admiral Hans-Joachim Stricker and German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung visited the crew Monday.
'When I look at the EU operational plan to deploy ships and aircraft, I am confident we can fulfil the requirements,' Stricker said in his annual report.
It was distributed by publicists at the naval base in Gluecksburg on Germany's Baltic coast.
Stricker said Germany had a fundamental interest in 'safe sea- lanes to secure free trade on international markets.'
Operation Atalanta is primarily aimed at guarding boats carrying aid to
Somali ports and its presence is also expected to deter pirate attacks
on other sea traffic through the Gulf of Aden.
SOURCE: Monsters and Critics, Monday, December 22, 2008