I would like to give the Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands an opportunity to clarify statements made in Parliament.

The Minister denied that Cook Islands registered ships are carrying sanctioned Russian oil in the Baltic Sea.

What would motivate Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Poland and Germany to lie about the Cook Islands registered ships carrying sanctioned Russian oil in the Baltic?

Is the Minister aware that the last Cook Islands registered ship arrested, and still held, was carrying “extensive espionage equipment”? 

Is the Minister aware that the Cook Islands registered ships are still able to be tracked by the above countries despite switching off their AIS radar in the Baltic?

Who owns the Maritime Cook Islands?

Does the Government have an investment in Maritime Cook Islands?

Was the decision to allow Cook Islands registered ships carry sanctioned Russian oil in the Baltic political or economic?

How would you explain the relationship between Russia and the Cook Islands today?

With gratitude for your response. 

Yours sincerely,

J. T. Aagaard.