Arab countries overlooking the Red Sea would hold an emergency meeting in Cairo on Thursday to coordinate efforts in fighting against piracy, the Egyptian MENA news agency reported on Monday.
Under co-chairmanship of Egypt and Yemen, the meeting is meant to draw up recommendations and set up cooperation mechanisms to deal with the problem in the waters linking the Red Sea, Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossam Zaki was quoted as saying.
It's important for Arab countries overlooking the Red Sea to coordinate with each other to secure the Red Sea waterways, Zaki said.
Earlier this month, Zaki said the piracy issue should be eradicated by settling its root causes that are closely connected with the turbulence in Somalia.
The waters off the Somali coasts are considered to be some of the world's most dangerous areas as pirates have hijacked nearly 30 ships this year and attacked many more.
Most attacks have been in the Gulf of Aden between Yemen and north Somalia, a major route leading to Egypt's Suez Canal, one of the most important international waterways linking Europe and Asia.