Politics

00:21, 10.08.2007 | APR

apan said on Wednesday it hoped Russia would promptly implement an international maritime tribunal order to free a Japanese fishing trawler it has seized.

The Hamburg-based International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea on Monday ordered Russia to free the trawler, Hoshin Maru number 88, on a bond of 285,000 euros (393,000 dollars).
Russia seized the boat on June 1 off its Kamchatka peninsula on the Far East, accusing the fishermen of poaching.
“Japan hopes the release of the vessel and the crew of the Hoshin Maru 88 will be realised promptly based on the judgement,” Japan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
Japan voiced hope that Russia would improve regulations and ”prevent the reoccurrence of long detention of Japanese fishing vessels in the future.”
Russia and Japan frequently have disputes over fishing rights, with Russian coast guard ships often moving in on Japanese trawlers.
The two countries have never signed a peace treaty formally ending World War II, as Japan claims four islands off its northern coast which Soviet troops seized days after Tokyo’s surrender.

- AFP