Seven candidates for the succession of the Secretary General of the IMO – The former Minister of Transport asks for explanations
Explanations from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Deputy Minister of Shipping for the non-submission of a Cypriot candidacy for the position of Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization are requested by the former Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Yannis Karousos in his announcement on Monday.
According to Mr. Karousos, a Cypriot candidacy could be submitted for the position of Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which is a UN organization, which, as he states, was what the EU and many others wanted and it actually happened. the relevant preliminary work.
He added that a unique opportunity was lost as Friday was the last day of nominations, noting the positives that the country could gain from the election of the Cyprus Secretary General of the IMO, at a time when there is an embargo against Cypriot shipping by Turkey.
"The President of the Republic stated that Cyprus will submit a candidacy for the IMO board and not for the position of secretary general, which is done anyway over time," says Mr. Karousos and invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Deputy Minister of Shipping to explain the issue.
“I hope they know what IMO is. The Democratic Alarm must register the issue in Parliament and ask for explanations and answers to a series of questions", he emphasizes in this regard, adding that the questions concern whether the Government was aware of the position of the corresponding Greek, why the Minister of Foreign Affairs was not bothered of Cyprus since Greece's announcement to support Turkey, what were the actions of the Deputy Minister of Shipping who knew all the details and why there was this delay.
"Vassilis Dimitriadis would be an excellent secretary general of the IMO. But the opportunity was lost, it was left to burn internally, perhaps even vindictively. Instead of seeing the good of the country, we look elsewhere," the announcement concludes.
Seven candidates for the succession of the General Secretary
Seven are the nominations submitted before Friday's deadline for the position of the next Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
South Korean Kitak Lim's term comes to an end at the end of the year after eight years at the helm of the organization responsible for the international shipping framework.
The candidates are the following:
Arsenio Dominguez, Panama – former permanent representative of his country to the IMO and current director of the Organization's Marine Environmental Protection Department
Nancy Karigithu, Kenya – Special Representative of her country for Maritime, Maritime and Blue Economy affairs
Moin Ahmed, Bangladesh – Director General of the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) and former executive of the IMO technical department
Swat Hayri Akka, Turkey – ambassador and permanent representative of his country to the Organization
Dr. Cleopatra Dubia-Henry, Dominica – President of the World Maritime University and former head of the International Labor Organization
Mina Kivimaki, Finland – secretary general of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of her country
Jiang Xiaojie, China – director of the IMO Technical Cooperation Department.
The vote to elect the new IMO leader will take place on 18 July during the regular meeting of the Organization's Council at its headquarters in London.
The result of the vote will be submitted for ratification at the 33rd plenary assembly of the International Maritime Organization in London in late November-early December. The new head will take office at the beginning of 2024.
It is noted that the Greek government has declared its intention to support the candidacy of the Turkish official for the position of the Secretary General of the IMO in the context of reciprocity for the support that Turkey will provide to a Greek candidacy for the United Nations Security Council.
The Cypriot government has rejected the possibility of supporting the Turkish candidate.
Source: KYPE