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Zapatero says the priority in the Playa Bakio kidnapping was the safety of the Spanish crew
By h.b. - Apr 29, 2008 - 7:19 AM
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‘Saving the Spaniards has no price’ – the words of the Spanish Foreign Minister, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, on the release of the 26 crew and the tuna fishing boat ‘Playa de Bakio’ who were held hostage for almost a week by Somali pirates.
The 13 Spaniards on board, eight Galicians and five Basques will arrive this morning in Seychelles, from where a military plane will bring them home to Spain.
The Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, said that Moratinos and the Minister for the Environment and Maritime affairs, Elena Espinosa, would both be making a statement to Congress on the matter later, but comments from the Foreign Minister have already made it clear that the Government thinks its first duty was to save the Spanish crew, whatever the price.
Zapatero said the same on the 59 segundos television programme which he attended last night.
He said the Government had done a good job as there was a positive outcome, and when asked about the PP request for a statement to Congress, said that in other countries in such a position the opposition always supported the Government, aware that the event is a very difficult situation in countries in a state of permanent violence.
The payment of a 1.2 million dollar ransom for their release was confirmed by Andrew Mwangura in Mombasa who took part in the negotiations and who blames pirates linked to the war in Somalia for the attack on the Spanish ship, which he says was probably chosen on the Internet.
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