18 sailors released by pirates arrive in Istanbul

Istanbul: The leaders of Georgia and Turkey
have welcomed 15 Georgian and three Turkish sailors who were
released more than a year after their Greek-owned ship was
captured by Somali pirates.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan greeted the 18 sailors at
Istanbul`s Ataturk Airport on Friday. They were released on
Sunday.

The crew were taking the ship Olib from Egypt to India
when it was captured by pirates on September 8, 2010. The
ship, which was sailing under a Maltese flag, was to be
scrapped in India.

The leaders said Georgia and Turkey were involved in
"joint efforts" and diplomatic negotiations that secured the
sailors` release.

It was not clear if any ransom was paid.

PTI