Kazakhstan and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) have discussed the safety of oil tankers and other merchant vessels operating in the Black Sea amid attacks on commercial shipping, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry said.
The issue was raised during a meeting in the United Kingdom between Alibek Bakayev, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to the UK, and Arsenio Domínguez, secretary-general of the IMO, Caliber.Az reports via Kazakh media.
Particular attention was given to the security situation in the Black Sea, with Bakayev stressing the importance of protecting merchant vessels, including tankers transporting Kazakh oil.
“Alibek Bakayev emphasised the importance of ensuring the safety of merchant vessels, including tankers carrying Kazakhstani oil,” the Foreign Ministry said.
The Kazakh side also stressed the importance of maintaining safe conditions for shipping and the stability of maritime routes, which it described as vital to the country’s foreign trade and international energy security.
Domínguez supported Kazakhstan’s position and underscored the fundamental importance of protecting civilian and merchant vessels. He said the IMO would continue advocating compliance with international maritime safety principles and the protection of civilian maritime transport.
The IMO Secretary-General also identified a wide range of areas for further cooperation and reaffirmed the organisation’s readiness to assist Kazakhstan.
The International Maritime Organisation is a specialised UN agency responsible for developing international rules and standards on maritime safety and security, preventing pollution from ships and addressing other issues related to international shipping.
Kazakhstan has been a member of the IMO since 1994.
By Sabina Mammadli
