In a statement on Sept. 14, NATO said the conference in Hammamet,
Tunisia, scheduled to begin on Sept. 20, would contain members of the
Mediterranean Dialogue. Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia have been members of
the dialogue, established in 1994 and revived over the last two years.
Officials said 70 representatives from NATO and dialogue partners would
examine the feasibility of the regional anti-piracy network. They said the
network would be based on human intelligence rather than satellite or
signals data.
NATO said the U.S. Navy and other groups would address the requirements
of what was termed a "collaborative, human-centric information system." The
concept was based on data mining, crisis management, police missions,
interdiction, training and interagency cooperation.
"Operating in the crisis management and anti-piracy environment,
decision-makers at all levels and their staffs can use collaborative
human-centric information support capabilities to enhance capacity for
deterrence, interdiction and/or response," NATO said.
NATO has been maintaining a counter-piracy mission in the Arabian Sea
and Red Sea. But officials said North African states have also been
threatened by piracy.
"Tunisia is both a coastal and maritime country where maritime security
and piracy issues are of top priority," NATO said.