Russia is planning a naval drill off Irish coast next week and it is the reason for latest dispute in national and international politics. Though the drill takes place beyond the Irish Sea border, it is still inside he State’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) about 240km off the coast of west Cork.
Meanwhile the representatives of Irish fishing industry had a meeting with Russia’s ambassador to Ireland, Yuriy Filatov, on Thursday after which the representatives came out with confidence. According to Brendan Byrne, chief executive of the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association, the ambassador have guaranteed them with safety even during the drill.
Patrick Murphy, chief executive of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation also repeated the same saying ‘[Russia has] no intention to endanger or harm fishermen.’ It is the decision of individual trawlers to go for fishing, he added.
Meanwhile the Embassy of Russia in Ireland released a statement to The Irish Times and it says ‘There was no discussion of guarantees of any kind.’ According to the report, Embassy spokesman Nikita Isakin said: “The ambassador underscored that the exercises, given their small scale and location, will not adversarially affect the traditional fishing areas.”
The embassy said that the ambassador had a “detailed and productive discussion” about the industry’s concerns about the upcoming naval exercises off the Irish coast and “emphasised the necessity to strictly follow safety protocols and regulations pertaining to the matter.”
On the other hand, the Department of Transport in Ireland has issued a notice to the fishermen and others who go out in the sea, detailing the area of Russian naval drill with a picture. The warning will be in place from 3rd February to 8th February.
‘The Russian Federation has indicated that the exercises will include the use of naval artillery and launching of rockets,’ the department’s notice says.
‘Given the nature of the planned exercises and the presence of naval forces, vessels and crews are advised of serious safety risks in the operational area.’ it adds.