Moscow demands vessel be released immediately during meeting with Senegalese rep
MOSCOW. Jan 9 (Interfax) - The Russian Foreign Ministry has demanded again during a conversation of Russian diplomats and Senegalese charge d'affaires in Moscow Mamadou Diagna, that, the Oleg Naydyonov trawler be released immediately, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.
"During the meeting held with Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, at which Russian commissioner for human rights, democracy and the rule of law Konstantin Dolgov was present, Russia has again firmly demanded that the Senegalese authorities release the Russian fishing trawler Oleg Naydyonov and its crew," Lukashevich said on the Rossiya 24 (Russia 24) TV channel.
"Moscow expects that the incident will be resolved as quickly as possible in the spirit of traditionally friendly Russian-Senegalese relations," Lukashevich said.
"Mr. Diagna assured that the Senegalese authorities will make every effort possible to resolve the existing situation, which should not have negative impact on the mutually beneficial bilateral ties between our countries," the spokesman said.
"The necessity of strict compliance with international standards in regard to the rights and legal interests of the Russian sailors on board, including providing them with food, fresh water and necessary medical care, has been emphasized" during the meeting with the Senegalese official, the Russian Foreign Ministry posted a statement concerning the meeting with Diagna on its website on Thursday.
"The Russian Foreign Ministry in association with Rosrybolovstvo continues to keep this issue under special control," the document said.
Russia's fishing vessel Oleg Naydyonov was detained by Senegalese servicemen in early January in the Atlantic Ocean, 46 miles off the shore of Guinea-Bissau. The crew of the ship is 62 Russian citizens and 23 natives of Guinea-Bissau.
Their detention was carried out without explaining the reasons behind it. The Oleg Naydyonov was towed to the military port of Dakar.
It was presumed that the issue would be resolved after a meeting of Russian diplomats, a representative of the Russian fisheries agency Rosrybolovstvo and the Senegalese president planned for January 7. However, the meeting has not taken place because of various reasons set forth from Senegal.
The new timeline of talks has not been determined so far.