The Kremlin has summoned Norway’s diplomatic representative to protest what Moscow says is an “illegal restriction” imposed by Oslo on Russian fishing vessels operating in Norwegian waters, writes Politico.
According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, the protest was submitted on the 29th of July in response to Norway’s restrictions on vessels belonging to the Russian companies Norebo and Murman Seafood. Until now, they have been able to fish in the waters of Norway’s exclusive economic zone based on a bilateral agreement on cooperation in the field of fisheries concluded in 1976.
The Norwegian government announced on the 7th of July that it would join the sanctions imposed by the European Union against Russia in May, citing concerns about espionage and the risk of possible sabotage. The 1976 treaty was thus invalidated, and Russian fishing vessels were ordered to leave Norwegian waters.
Moscow said the decision was “politically motivated.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Norway’s decision was a serious breach of long-standing cooperation rules and threatened a successful system for joint management of fish stocks in the Barents and Norwegian Seas. The Kremlin warned that Norway’s actions threatened broader fisheries cooperation and posed a risk to sustainable research into the North Atlantic waters.
Norway said it would like to continue cooperation on fisheries management in the Barents Sea, but had decided to work with its European partners, taking a firm stance against Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and its attitude towards NATO countries.
Read also: Earthquake shakes Kamchatka; Hawaii, Japan ordered evacuation