The FINANCIAL — Ukraine intends to initiate the introduction of amendments into the international maritime law on counteraction of piracy on the sea, Foreign Affairs Minister Petro Poroshenko told at a press conference.
"The legislation requires substantial reformation today to enable the state to fight piracy more efficiently… We consider, the Ukraine will initiate these amendments," Poroshenko said.
He also said that the maritime law should allow crewmembers to protect themselves.
According to the minister, the maritime law bans vessel captains from having weapon and also restricts presence of weapon aboard.
Poroshenko said that the initiative to amend the law has been agreed with a number of European Union countries and African states.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Somali pirates regularly seize vessels with Ukrainian crewmembers aboard.
On November 30, the UN Security Council approved the Ukraine's initiating resolution 1897 (2009) on the counteraction of sea piracy near the coast of Somalia.
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