Seizure Of Turkish Fishing Boat In Georgia

COMPANY OFFICIAL: ''OUR CREW MEMBERS ARE SAFE AT POTI PORT''
TRABZON - Alaaddin Aydin, an official from the Turkish Abal Fishing Company which owns 'Abal' fishing boat that was seized and taken to Poti port of Georgia by Georgian coast guard, said on Wednesday that crew members of the boat were safe at the Poti port.
Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Aydin said that they had telephoned families of crew members and informed them on the developments, adding, ''we are trying to solve the problem. Value of the boat is more than one million dollars, but it is not important. the seventeen-member crew are much more important than everything. If we committed a crime, we will pay the fine. I suppose it would be clarified in coming days.''
Officials said the Turkish fishing boat was seized early on January 4 20-25 miles off Suhumi, Georgia and the crew members were accused of ''violating Georgian territorial waters and illegal fishing''.
(MS-AÖ) 07.01.2004