European Parliament
President.
Question No 2 by Alexandros Alavanos 
Subject: Greek seamen held in Pakistan
On 27 July 2003 the tanker ‘Tasman Spirit’ which was being directed by a local pilot ran aground at the entrance of Karachi harbour, leaking a substantial amount of its cargo and causing an environmental disaster. The 'polluter pays' principle is not in question. However, whereas in the case of the ‘Prestige’, the Spanish authorities held the shipowning company accountable, in the case of the ‘Tasman Spirit’ the Pakistani authorities are holding the entire crew accountable and have banned the Greek seamen - EU citizens - and their Filipino colleagues from leaving Pakistan. The Pakistani authorities have also detained the mechanic Nikos Pappas, the salvage master, who is employed by a different shipowning company and arrived in Pakistan on 17 August, 20 days after the shipwreck occurred.
How does the Council intend to respond to this case of hostage-taking of European citizens by the Pakistani authorities which has outraged Greek public opinion and what urgent
démarches
does it intend to take
vis-à-vis
the Pakistani Government?

