Bulgaria Top Diplomat: Panic Room Useful against Somali Pirates

The “St. James Park” ship is moving to a port in the area of Oman where the kidnapped Bulgarian sailors will be met and assisted by a diplomatic representative. File Photo

The “St. James Park” ship with Bulgarian sailors aboard which was freed from the Somali pirates is moving to a port in the area of Oman, Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister, Nikolay Mladenov reports.

Mladenov, who spoke Saturday in an interview for Darik radio, said the Bulgarian diplomatic representative in Dubai has been instructed to meet the ship and offer assistance to the Bulgarian sailors, but declined to state the exact location of the port.

The Minister reiterated media must refrain from hypothesis and comments about the negotiations regarding the other Bulgaria sailors on the “Asian Glory” and MV Panega ships because they only lead to a ransom increase, adding he has no new information about these 2 ships and despite the presence of EU military carriers in the area the situation remains very dangerous.

Bulgaria is also participating the European Union “Atlanta” operation through Bulgarian army officers under UK command. The corridor guarded by “Atlanta” is 200 km-wide, but the work of the convoys is difficult and does not guarantee full safety, Mladenov said.

The Minister further recommended to ship owners and crews to follow the directions of the “Atlanta” operation and pointed out each ship must be equipped with a panic room for the crew as the best measure against pirates’ attacks.

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