Ukrainian Shipped Hijacked off the Coast of Somalia
MR. WOOD: I don’t have anything for you, so why don’t we go right to your questions.
QUESTION: This – the weapons on this Ukrainian ship that was hijacked by Somali pirates on its way to Sudan, apparently
-- does the U.S. interpret this sort of arms shipment as a violation of the UN arms embargo?
MR. WOOD: Well, right now, I understand the Pentagon has a ship that’s monitoring the situation out there right now. I
don’t have any other details about it, other than to say that, obviously, we’ve been concerned about piracy in this part
of the world for a very long time. We’ve had travel warnings in the past about the situation off the coast there. And –
but beyond that, I don’t have anything for you on that. I’d probably refer you to the Pentagon for more details on that.
QUESTION: Do you have lawyers who are examining whether this was a violation of the UN --
MR. WOOD: I’m sure people will be looking at those aspects of it. But right now, they’re obviously trying to resolve a
standoff in the area, first and foremost.
QUESTION: Could you say whether the U.S. is concerned or welcomes a Russian ship that is also heading towards this,
apparently, hijacked ship?
MR. WOOD: Well, the Russians, I believe, are trying to lend their support to the ship that was hijacked. So I don’t have
anything to say beyond that on it. They’re obviously concerned about it as we are.
QUESTION: Thank you.
MR. WOOD: Okay, thank you.
ENDS