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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
ALSO SEE : • The crew of the Playa Bakio are now back on Spanish soil - Apr 30, 2008 - 7:36 AM

The 'Playa de Bakio' heading for the Seychelles under escort of the Spanish frigate 'Méndez Núñez' - Photo EFE
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Foreign Minister, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, said that saving the Spaniards lives had no price
‘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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ALSO SEE :
• The crew of the Playa Bakio are now back on Spanish soil - Apr 30, 2008 - 7:36 AM
• Released Spanish fishermen on their way home - Apr 28, 2008 - 7:49 AM
• Crew of kidnapped Spanish tuna fishing boat released - Apr 27, 2008 - 9:37 AM
• Kidnapped Spanish fishing boat said to have set sail again in Somalia - Apr 25, 2008 - 8:04 AM
• Talks continue in the Spanish fishing boat kidnap off Somalia - Apr 24, 2008 - 7:24 AM
• Talks with Somalia pirates expected to get underway properly today - Apr 23, 2008 - 8:16 AM
• Diplomatic efforts continue to try to release the Spanish crew of the Playa de Bakio - Apr 22, 2008 - 8:29 AM
• Spanish fishing boat held hostage off the coast of Somalia - Apr 21, 2008 - 7:30 AM
• Fishermen rescued after weeks adrift - Apr 5, 2008 - 10:59 AM
• Ship runs aground off northern Spain with 54 tons of fuel on board - Mar 9, 2008 - 9:22 PM