19 August 2004, 19:37
Azerbaijan ship, planes under arrest in Turkey
The Azerbaijan Ministry of Transportation has asked the republican government to settle with the Turkish government a question concerning the detention of the "Fikret Amirov" ship and two planes for the debts of the Ministry of Agriculture to Saka Korkmaz, a private Turkish company.
The ship belongs to the Caspian Sea Line and has been under arrest in the Turkish port of Zonguldak for about a month already. The AZAL (State Aviation Concern) planes have been under arrest in Trabzon for the same period of time. Other ships of the Line do not enter Turkish ports now not to get into the same situation, a source in the Ministry of Transportation told the Caucasian Knot correspondent. The point is that Turkish authorities have estimated the dry cargo ship at $800,000, but Saka Korkmaz claims the debt comes to $9 million. The stoppage of the ship and planes costs several thousands of US dollars daily.
Directors of the Turkish company made a request to judicial authorities of their country to detain all ships coming to sea ports from Azerbaijan. A Turkish court has satisfied the company's claim.
Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent Source: Caucasian Knot
