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Faroe Islands restrict access of Russians to their ports

Jun 2, 2023

The autonomous Faroe Islands of Denmark said on Thursday that in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Russia's access to their ports in the North Atlantic will be limited.

This is reported by AFP.

"Only fishing vessels engaged exclusively in fishing in accordance with a bilateral agreement between the Faroe Islands and Russia will be able to enter the ports of the Faroe Islands," the island government said.

"The activities of Russian fishing vessels in the port will be limited to crew changes, bunkering, provisioning, landing, and transshipment," the statement said.

Maintenance will be prohibited and the purchase of goods will be limited.

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The Faroe Islands government is trying to reduce Russian activity in its ports because of the risk of espionage and after criticism over the renewal of a bilateral fisheries agreement in late November.

The agreement, which has been renewed annually since 1977, sets quotas for catching several species of fish, including cod, haddock, halibut, and herring, in the Barents Sea for Faroese fishermen and of the Faroe Islands for Russians.

According to the Ministry of Fisheries, the fish caught under the agreement accounts for five percent of the island's gross domestic product.

The Faroe Islands, with about 54,000 inhabitants and located between Scotland and Iceland, have been largely autonomous from Denmark since 1948.

Author - Olena Madiak, 02/06/2023

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