Question mark remains over Georgia decision

15 August 2008. For immediate release

ITF on war zones: Question mark remains over Georgia decision

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 The current Lloyds Risk war zone list for non-IBF agreement ships is out of date and rarely enforced, and we intend to initiate a dialogue with the wider shipping industry about the whole question of war risk - which clearly should apply to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

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