ID :
210539
Sat, 10/01/2011 - 10:20
Auther :

Moscow lodges protest with Norway over ship's detention

MOSCOW (Itar-Tass) - The Russian Foreign Ministry has
lodged a protest with Norway's ambassador in Moscow in connection with the
detention on September 28 of the Russian fishing vessel The Sapfir 2 in
the so-called "fishery conservation zone" of Spitsbergen.
"Norway's actions were unacceptable and provocative," the statement
runs. "According to reports, the Norwegian inspectors barred the crew from
control of the vessel, seized all documents and denied access to the radio
room and office equipment. In addition, representatives of the Norwegian
Coast Guard refused to cooperate with officials of the Russian Federal
Fisheries Agency," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. In this regard, "the
Russian side pointed to the inadmissibility of such actions, fraught with
the potential escalation of tensions in the fishing industry, and demanded
the immediate release of the vessel," the Russian Foreign Ministry
emphasized.
"The Russian side demands Norway should comply with its international
commitments, as well as the norms of international maritime law. Any
emerging issues should be resolved in a spirit of neighborliness, within
the framework of the agreed procedures and mechanisms, including the Joint
Russian-Norwegian Fisheries Commission," the Foreign Ministry said, adding
that it is not the first such case.
The Russian trawler the Saprif 2 was arrested on September 28 by the
Coast Guard of Norway for dumping cod in the Norwegian fishing zone around
Spitsbergen, which is prohibited by Norwegian law. After that the ship was
towed into the port of Tromso.


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