Fisheries deal with Russia renewed

The Faroes have signed a new one-year deal with Russia regarding fisheries.

The deal puts Denmark in a difficult position, Flemming Splidsboel, of the Danish institute for international studies, told Danish national broadcaster DR.

Acknowledging the Faroes' autonomy in fishery policy, Denmark's foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, has stated that the Faroes are free to make their own decisions. However, he adds that the Faroese decision will be noted not only in Denmark, but also further afield.

Splidsboel interpret’s Rasmussen’s statement as putting pressure on the Faroese government.

“This makes it much easier for Russians to carry out espionage in an area where they are otherwise unwelcome,” he told DR.

Breach of election promise

Eirikur Lindenskov, editor of Faroese newspaper Sosialurin, argues that this is a clear breach of the government election pledges.

“All three government parties insisted ahead of last year’s general election that they would not renew the fisheries deal with Russia,” he says.

Prime Minister Aksel V. Johannesen maintains that he has always opposed renewing the deal, but he has been unable to secure the necessary political support for his position.

“Whichever way the government spins it, this is a clear breach of what it promised in its election campaign.”

Read the Faroese versions of this article here and here.

More Faroese News in English.