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Vietnam calls for speedy release of kidnapped sailors

Vietnam News Agency (VNA)
Friday, May 25, 2007

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Vietnam has called on the Government of the Republic of Korea (RoK) to ensure the speedy release of the crews of two fishing vessels kidnapped off the coast of Somalia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Spokesman Le Dung made the comments on May 24 while answering a correspondent’s question about how Vietnam intends to respond to the attack on the RoK fishing vessels and the kidnapping of 24 sailors aboard, which included three Vietnamese nationals.

“The MoFA has delivered a diplomatic note to representatives from the RoK Embassy in Hanoi and expressed the concern of the Vietnamese Government and the three kidnapped sailors’ family members over their health and safety. We have asked the RoK Government to embark on measures to ensure the quick release of the hostages,” the spokesman said.

The MoFA also proposed to the RoK that their agencies issue danger warnings for the area off the Somalia coast, where hijackings have continued to occur recently, the spokesman said.

According to a representative from the RoK Embassy, officials have been in contact with the kidnapped sailors and they have been found to be healthy and safe for now, the diplomat said.

MoFA is ratcheting it up its efforts to push for the release of the vessels and their crews, he added.

Two RoK-owned fishing vessels were attacked on May 15 while they were en route from the Kenyan port of Mombassa to Yemen. The ships, Mavuno I and Mavuno II, both fly Tanzanian maritime flags. (VNA).

Source: VNA, May 25, 2007

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