Official response Greenpeace International

Kofi Annan: more needs to be done on safety of shipping

The official response from Kofi Annan essentially agrees that much more needs to be done in order to ensure the safety of shipping and that the UN is still trying to decide how to proceed next:

"Like you, the Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the catastrophic ecological and social consequences of the sinking of the Prestige. Coming less than three years after the Erika and just before the 20th Anniversary of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, this disaster is a reminder that our task is not complete. Much more has to be done to ensure the safety of shipping, the protection of the marine environment and the safeguarding of the livelihoods of millions of people all over the world who depend upon the bounty of the sea.

As you pointed out, the problem is multi-faceted, not easy to resolve and involves the mandates of a number of international organizations, agencies and programmes. Although steps have been taken and work is continuing to deal with various aspects of oil tanker accidents, clearly more could be done. In particular, the coordination within the relevant bodies of the United Nations system should be improved.

Because of the political sensitivity of the issues involved, I wish to consult the other agencies interested in the subject before deciding how to proceed. Please be assured that this problem will be given the most serious consideration by the Secretariat of the United Nations and those agencies with which we interact."