ALMATY, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Kazakhstan on Sunday condemned recent attacks on civilian vessels near the marine terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium in the Black Sea.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attacks "unacceptable" and an infringement upon Kazakhstan's economic interests.
It also described the strikes as deliberate acts aimed at destabilizing lawful international trade and global energy markets, and undermining the security of global transport and logistics supply chains.
The ministry expressed concern that a mechanism for exchanging information on civilian vessels entering the Black Sea to load oil at consortium terminals had been disregarded, endangering the lives and safety of crew members.
Kazakhstan is assessing the damage caused by the attacks and will safeguard its rights under international law, including seeking full compensation, the ministry added.
According to official sources, an empty oil tanker was attacked on Friday, and two oil-laden tankers came under drone strikes on Sunday. No casualties were reported in either incident. Operations were briefly suspended but later resumed. ■