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Hailing India's gesture to provide an off shore Patrol vessel to Mauritius, Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam here on Saturday appreciated India's cooperation to his country in its fight against high-sea pirates and terrorism. Following his meet with the visiting Indian External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna at Clarisse House in Port Louis today, Mauritian Prime Minister Ramgoolam told media persons that Mauritius being a small country needed some assistance to deal with the problem. Talking about Mauritius' relations with India, Ramgoolam said: "We have very special relation with India and it has always been my wish and this will continue". Appreciating Mauritian Prime Minister's views on India - Mauritius relations, Krishna said that India shares exceptional friendly relations with Mauritius and looks forward to further strengthening of relationship with it. On the issue of pirates' problem, Krishna said the problem needs a joint effort to prevent it, as it bothers India too. On June 13, Ramgoolam stated that Mauritius needed to play a more active role in fighting piracy in the region, given its impact on security, fishing and tourism. By stating Mauritius is ready to attempt to prosecute pirates, Ramgoolam ensured that his country joins three other countries in the region that have shown willingness to do the same. Mauritius joined Kenya, Seychelles and Tanzania in their willingness and readiness to prosecute pirates. Rampant piracy off the coast of Somalia has made it the world's most dangerous shipping lane and earned Somali sea bandits tens of millions of dollars in ransoms, as well as raising insurance premiums for ships. International navies trying to counter piracy off Somalia are often reluctant to take suspects to their own countries because they either lack the jurisdiction to put them on trial there, or they fear the pirates may seek asylum. Often pirates arrested on the high seas are returned to Somalia's lawless shores.

Mauritius PM hails India's cooperation against high-sea pirates, terrorism