Collision off Dutch coast causes fuel leak

21:00, October 12, 2010      
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The damaged hull of a Greek tanker is seen after colliding with a container ship 30 kilometers (20 miles) off the Dutch coast, Oct. 12, 2010. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)/center>
A Greek tanker carrying aviation fuel collided with a Cypriot container ship at around 0700 Tuesday morning, leaving a hole leaking fuel from the tanker. "The situation is under control," local media reported.
The collision happened 30 km west of Scheveningen, a small town famous for its beautiful beach, located near The Hague.
The hole increased from five to six meters, which sits right on the water, leaking fuel. But according to Dutch Coast Guard, the pollution to the environment till now is not so bad.
"It evaporates very quickly," said a spokesman. Besides, a favorable wind from the coast drives the fuel far away from the coast.
However, the aviation fuel is very explosive, the danger remains. "But the Coast Guard has the situation under control," local media reported.
There are 25 people on board the tanker and 12 on the container ship, nobody were injured.
The container ship is little damaged, and the captain has requested continued to sail to Rotterdam.
Source: XinhuaRomanian accession to Schengen not depend on Roma integration: Merkel
20:43, October 12, 2010      
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Romania's accession to the Schengen area will depend on the country's border security conditions rather than the integration of the Roma ethnic minority, visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday.
"The problem of the social integration of Roma ethnics in Romania does not play any role in the country's accession to Schengen," said the German leader, alluding to recent Roma repatriations from France.
Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc told Merkel the country wanted to finish the Schengen accession process in March 2011, adding the country's accession must not be impeded by political issues.
Merkel said Germany supported Romania in the accession to the Schengen area, which provides for freedom of movement between European states.
She said the German authorities would in November assess, based on data offered by the European Commission, the way Romania observed technical conditions to join the Schengen area, especially visa-granting conditions.
She stressed that Schengen visas must be granted without corruption or irregularities.
Merkel is on an official visit to Romania as the two countries celebrate 130 years of diplomatic relations.
She is expected to meet with President Traian Basescu and will visit the Babes-Bolyai University in the northwestern city of Cluj-Napoca, where she will be awarded an honorary degree.
Source: Xinhua
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