Russian trawler that allegedly fled prosecution in Norway nears its own waters
Tuesday October 18, 2005
By JUDITH INGRAM
Associated Press Writer
MOSCOW (AP) A Russian trawler accused of illegal fishing off Norway fled toward its own waters Tuesday with Norwegian vessels in pursuit, aggravating a long-standing dispute between the two countries, border guards said.
Norway's coast guard intercepted the trawler Elektron on Saturday for alleged violations in Norwegian-protected waters, and the Russians began following the cutter to port as ordered. However, the Elektron changed course Sunday for Russia with two Norwegian fisheries inspectors on board, Norwegian Lt. Col. John Espen Lien said.
``We have two coast guard ships that are following the trawler, and in addition, two other coast guard ships are keeping at a distance,'' Lien was quoted as saying by Norwegian news agency NTB. ``We have not had any special contact with the Russians overnight, and they have not shown any particular interest in communicating with us.''
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his office was in constant contact with its Norwegian counterpart and that the situation would be resolved through negotiations.
He said Russia objected to Norway's definition of its economic zone a region where it controls the rights to fish.
``The incident took place in the Spitsbergen area, which the Norwegian side has proclaimed a fish-protection zone,'' Lavrov said. ``We have never agreed to the parameters that the Norwegians set unilaterally.''
He said the Norwegian claim that the trawler had used illegal fishing equipment would be discussed at talks.
Russia's navy would not interfere, but it dispatched an anti-submarine ship to patrol its northern waters to ensure foreign ships do not enter, naval spokesman Igor Dygalo was quoted as saying by Interfax.
The acting press attache at the Russian Embassy in Oslo, Alexei Shadskiy, told The Associated Press the two sides had agreed that the two Norwegian inspectors would be transferred to a Russian border guard patrol ship and from there to a Norwegian coast guard vessel.
He said there was a storm in the area but that the transfer would be completed when conditions allowed.
He also said the Elektron would proceed to the northern port of Murmansk, where it would face an investigation and possible legal action. A border guards spokesman, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he said his agency was not involved in the incident, said the trawler might reach Russian territorial waters by early Wednesday.
Norway and Russia have land and sea borders in the Arctic, and share the vast Barents Sea, which is rich in fish and a promising oil province.
The trawler was boarded for inspection in the Norwegian Fisheries Protection zone around the Nordic nation's Svalbard Islands, some 300 miles north of the mainland.
The trawler was caught using fine-mesh nets and other equipment to catch fish that were much smaller than permitted, potentially threatening fish stocks, Lien said.
Normally, trawlers detained for illegal fishing are escorted back to a Norwegian port, where they could face fines and the seizure of their catch.
This is how mighty Norway flexing its muscles against evil Russians!
“The coastguard had tried to snag the trawler's propeller with a rope to force it to stop, Itar-Tass news agency quoted the Russian captain as saying, but another trawler was doing its best to thwart the Norwegian efforts.
Norway has promised not to resort to force, Russian security officials in Murmansk told Ekho Moskvy radio station. But Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said it was a serious matter.
"We want to follow this boat, get back the Norwegian inspectors aboard and show that we don't take suspicions of illegal fishing lightly," he told Norwegian NRK radio.”
Spicbergen Island (actually archipelago) is 558 north of Norwegian border. There are two small villages Russian and Norwegian there. Spicbergen or Svalbard or Spitsbergen Island is Russian property, given as a present by “western powers” to Norway on Feb 09, 1920, after communist revolution. According to that treaty Russians have fishing rights in that area. Spitting on Orthodox nations – especially Serbs and Russians – seams like popular and safe sport - at least for now.