MADRID has taken “no decision” on whether to allow the cargo ship Arctic Sea to dock at Las Palmas, foreign ministry told Fairplay today.
The inquiry over the ship has wrapped up in Moscow, with no findings so far issued. But a ministry spokesman denied that Madrid had refused a formal request from Russia to allow the ship to enter the Canary Islands port.
"It is not the case that the request from Russian authorities has been rejected. However, no decision has been taken to authorise the Arctic Sea to enter Spanish waters," the spokesman said.
Some reports from Moscow had indicated that the ship would be allowed to dock at Las Palmas on Friday, where it would be handed over to its Maltese owner. It is now anchored off the Canary Islands.
Unsubstantiated rumours about the ship and its cargo – many alleging a role by pirates, various intelligence agencies and smuggling of missiles to Iran – have swirled internationally since Arctic Sea and its 15-man crew were picked up by the Russian navy on 17 August off the Cape Verde Islands.
It had been presumed missing for almost three weeks en route to Algeria – with a listed cargo of lumber.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2009-09-25 12:45 pm (UTC)The inquiry over the ship has wrapped up in Moscow, with no findings so far issued. But a ministry spokesman denied that Madrid had refused a formal request from Russia to allow the ship to enter the Canary Islands port.
"It is not the case that the request from Russian authorities has been rejected. However, no decision has been taken to authorise the Arctic Sea to enter Spanish waters," the spokesman said.
Some reports from Moscow had indicated that the ship would be allowed to dock at Las Palmas on Friday, where it would be handed over to its Maltese owner. It is now anchored off the Canary Islands.
Unsubstantiated rumours about the ship and its cargo – many alleging a role by pirates, various intelligence agencies and smuggling of missiles to Iran – have swirled internationally since Arctic Sea and its 15-man crew were picked up by the Russian navy on 17 August off the Cape Verde Islands.
It had been presumed missing for almost three weeks en route to Algeria – with a listed cargo of lumber.