Cyprus was re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organization in the relevant vote held today in London, in the framework of the 32nd General Assembly of the Organization.
Cyprus was a candidate for re-election in category C, along with 27 other IMO member states vying for the same category. Out of a total of 160 countries that voted, Cyprus received support from 133 countries, securing 3rd place.
Cyprus has played an important role since 1973, when it became a full member of the IMO, which has been strengthened since 1987, a year in which Cyprus has been continuously elected to the IMO Council.
Shipping Deputy Minister Vassilios Demetriades expressed his full satisfaction for the re-election of Cyprus, thanking the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and especially the High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus in London and the Cyprus Shipping Office in the United Kingdom for their efforts.
In particular, he stated that the vote of confidence given to Cyprus uninterruptedly, for the last 34 consecutive years, by the vast majority of the member states of the Organization, and especially in the last decade where Cyprus is re-elected among the top five countries in number of votes, confirms the appreciation and recognition it receives in the global shipping firm. The Republic of Cyprus will continue to participate actively and effectively in the work of the Organization and to have a leading presence in the strategic decision-making processes that directly affect shipping.
Cyprus firmly believes that the Organization’s Council has a significant role to play in meeting the challenges and in supervising and guiding the implementation of the Organization’s Strategic Plan. The main challenges include the contribution of shipping to climate change, the safe operation of autonomous vessels, involvement in ocean governance, addressing cyber threats, facilitating international trade and further strengthening the maritime profession. Cyprus is convinced that this can be achieved through constructive cooperation and consensus between the Council Member States.
