From 22 to 26 November, the FREMM class frigate Virginio Fasan, flag unit of the European air and naval forces of Operation EU NAVFOR Atalanta to combat piracy in the waters of the Horn of Africa, it made an operational stop in the port of Port Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles.
During the logistic park of the Unity, which in the previous days had successfully carried out an operation that led to the detention of six Somalis suspected of piracy, several activities were carried out, both as a trainer, in favor of the military of the armed forces of Republic of the Seychelles, that important diplomatic meetings with the main local authorities, first of all the President of the Republic of Seychelles, if Danny Faure.
Just during this meeting, the Force Commander operation Atalanta, Rear Admiral Fabio Gregori, had the opportunity to thank the President both for the hospitality and logistical support that the Seychelles offer to the ships of the operation Atalanta, which for the support received during the arrest of the six suspect pirates Somali. Indeed, thanks to the cooperation and international agreements in force between the European Union and Seychelles, the six suspects will be subject to a regular process and, in compliance with international law, they will be judged for the piracy offense.
The "legal" aspect of Operation Atalanta, which also allows criminal prosecution, the piracy offense, in full respect of the right to defense, is an exclusive prerequisite of the European Operation which aims at discouraging the wider the criminal phenomenon.
On the same occasion, Rear Admiral Gregori also met with other local authorities, including the Secretary of State, HE Barry Faure and the Chief of Defense Forces of the Seychelles, Brigadier Leopold Payet. The same, along with other personalities, were received during the first day of stop in port on board Virginio Fasan for a visit to the unit.
On November 24, however, the helicopter component of the Italian frigate provided the Seychelles military group with theoretical and practical notions concerning the procedures for the search and recovery of a castaway - Search and Rescue (SAR), while the November 26 ship Virginio Fasan conducted the "Southern Region" complex anti-piracy exercise with the Seychelles armed forces.
