Russian ships take part in exercises in the Baltic Sea in October 2021
DUBLIN, Jan 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Russian military exercise has been moved further from the Irish coast, after pressure from politicians and fishermen.
It has been moved outside of the Republic’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The ‘live-fire’ exercise had been due to take place 240km off the southwest coast.
Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said the exercises would be “relocated outside of Ireland’s EEZ”.
Coveney had previously said Ireland would not welcome drills being carried out in the EEZ, but claimed the country had no power to stop Russia.
The decision to relocate the exercise had been made as a “gesture of goodwill”, the Russian ambassador to Ireland, Yuri Filatov, said.
Filaov said the decision was taken so as not to “hinder fishing activities by the Irish vessels in the traditional fishing areas”.
A group of fishermen who used the area had also warned that they would stage peaceful protests against the action if it went ahead as originally planned.
The Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation had highlighted the area’s importance for members.
They said their desire was to protect biodiversity and marine life.
The Irish Junior Minister Michael Noonan had also warned that the planned drills could also have “devastating” consequences for a number of species in the area, including several types of whales. — NNN-AGENCIES
