ITF on war zones: Question mark remains over Georgia decision

15 August 2008

Responding to the Joint Negotiating Group’s rejection of the proposal to declare Georgian coastal waters a warlike operations area, ITF General Secretary David Cockroft said: “It’s an understandable decision, given the declaration of a ceasefire and the hope we all feel that this conflict will end – but that doesn’t mean that it’s the right one. The situation in Georgia is dangerous and unstable. Unless it clearly and quickly improves we will have to challenge the decision’s validity.”

He continued: “This issue and the sheer number of conflict zones have thrown a spotlight on how we determine these areas. The current Lloyds Risk war zone list for non-IBF agreement ships is out of date and rarely enforced, and we intend to initiate a dialogue with the wider shipping industry about the whole question of war risk - which clearly should apply to all ships, whichever agreement they are covered by.”

ENDS

For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson.
Direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260.
Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk

International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF:
HEAD OFFICE
ITF House, 49 - 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871
Email: mail@itf.org.uk
Web: www.itfglobal.org

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