Spanish foreign minister meets with African ministers

Spain's foreign minister met Thursday with colleagues from African countries from which thousands of migrants have traveled to the Canary Islands, a situation that has created a humanitarian crisis and prompted EU pledges of intervention.

Photo: Spanish foreign minister meets with African ministers

Miguel Angel Moratinos was holding head-to-head meetings with foreign and justice ministers on the sidelines of a two-day U.N.-backed conference on helping African countries adapt their legal systems to fight terrorism.

Spanish authorities say the Canary Islands has intercepted more than 6,100 migrants since January, including more than 1,500 over the past two weeks. The tally is already well above the 4,751 caught in all of 2005.

More than 1,000 are believed to have died since late last year trying to make the long, perilous trip from Mauritania or other points on the coast of northwest Africa in overcrowded boats.

Moratinos was conferring with representatives of 10 African countries, including some that are key points of departure for immigrants seeking a better life in Europe, such as Cameroon, Nigeria and Guinea.

Last week the Spanish government announced an emergency "Africa Plan" in which Spanish diplomats are fanning out across western and central Africa to try to help governments control flows of outbound people, and it asked for help from the European Union.

Brussels responded with a pledge to deploy planes, boats and rapid-reaction aid teams from its member states. It said the EU's external border security agency would send two emergency coordination teams to the Canary Islands.

A senior official of the United Nations refugee agency toured the Canary Islands Wednesday, visiting holding centers for people who arrive from Africa.

"The rising death toll at sea has put the issue of irregular migration on the international agenda," said Erika Feller of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

"Thousands of lives have been lost over the last decade. But even as illegal migration has become more difficult, African migrants keep trying to reach Europe, taking greater risks," she said, reports the AP.

I.L.