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Cyprus re-elected to IMO Council

13/12/2021 09:37

Cyprus was re-elected Friday to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in the framework of the 32nd General Assembly of the Organization held in London.

According to an announcement by the Cypriot Deputy Ministry of Shipping, Cyprus was a candidate for along with 27 other IMO member states that were running in the same category. Out of a total of 160 countries that voted, Cyprus received support from 133 countries, securing the 3rd place.

Cyprus became a full member of the IMO in 1973 and, according to the announcement, it has an important role in the organization. Since 1987, Cyprus is continuously elected to the IMO Council.

Deputy Minister of Shipping Vassilios Dimitriades expressed his full satisfaction for the re-election of Cyprus, thanking the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and especially the High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus in London and the Cyprus Shipping Office in the United Kingdom for their efforts.

The Deputy Minister stressed that the vote of confidence given uninterruptedly in Cyprus for the last 34 years, by the vast majority of the Organization`s member states, and especially in the last decade with Cyprus ranking among the top five countries in number of votes, confirms the appreciation and recognition the country enjoys in global shipping.

"The Republic of Cyprus will continue to participate actively and effectively in the work of the Organization and to have a leading presence in the strategic decision-making processes that directly affect shipping," the press release says.

It is added that Cyprus firmly believes that the Organization`s Council has a significant role to play in addressing the challenges and in supervising and guiding the implementation of the Organization`s Strategic Plan. Key challenges, it is noted, include the contribution of shipping to climate change, the safe operation of autonomous vessels, ocean governance, tackling cyber threats, facilitating international trade and further strengthening the maritime profession.