Belgian minesweepers set for war-zone duty

Press, 16 September 1987, Page 10

Belgian minesweepers set for war-zone duty

NZPA-Reuter Brussels Belgian minesweepers prepared yesterday to sail for the Gulf after the government decided to join five other Western allies trying to safeguard shipping in the war-torn region. After decisions by Italy ’and the Netherlands last week to join United States, British and French forces in the Gulf, the Prime Minister, Wilfried Martens, said that Belgium would send two minesweepers and one

support vessel to the international waterway, a lifeline for oil exports. They would begin the five-week voyage within the next eight days and work in close collaboration with other European allies, he said. The mission was purely defensive and strictly in line with the country’s neutral stance in the war between Iran and Iraq. “Belgium will participate in the international waters of the Persian Gulf in a purely defensive

minesweeping operation with the aim of ensuring respect, for the principle of free navigation,” Mr Martens told a news conference. He said the British fleet in the area would be responsible for protecting the Belgian vessels from sea and air attacks. The Belgian force would work closely with Dutch naval vessels. Belgium has special minesweeping expertise within N.A.T.O. where its role is to keep open in

time of war the shipping lanes of the North Sea. The exact length of the mission depended on developments in the Gulf, but orders covered a month period. “Any extension of the Belgian mission will be subject to a new (Cabinet) decision,” Mr Martens said. He added that the Government reserved the right to recall its ships at any time. Mr Martens did hot name the vessels involved in the mission,