Maritime chief calls on President Michel |28 March 2009

IMO secretary-general Efthimios Mitropoulos has been in the country since Thursday for the opening of the Seychelles sub-regional search and rescue centre.

The centre, which is based at the Coast Guard headquarters in Victoria, was jointly opened yesterday by Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Transport Joel Morgan and Mr Mitropoulos.

The IMO provided equipment, expert advice and training, and also supervised the project.
Mr Mitropoulos said his talks with President Michel covered enhancing safety and security, and the contribution by the IMO and Seychelles to global efforts to tackle climate change.

Coordinating their response to the worrying increase in piracy along the coast of East Africa and the Gulf of Aden also featured in their talks.

After meeting President Michel yesterday morning, Mr Mitropoulos said he is very pleased and encouraged by the responsiveness and cooperation of the government here.

“I believe together we can work in a manner that will help create a safer, cleaner and more secure world,” he said.
Mr Mitropoulos is due to leave Seychelles today.