National
More than 200 illegal immigrants reach the Canaries at the weekend
By m.p.
Jun 25, 2006 - 9:06 PM

The Coastguard have rescued 39 illegal immigrants from a vessel which had been adrift at sea for two days, since setting off from Morocco on Friday morning. Rescue services began the search for the boat after the 112 emergency number in Las Palmas received a call for help on Saturday. They were finally located to the south of Fuerteventura at 2.30 on Sunday afternoon. There were two babies and four women on board. Most of the passengers were said to be in good health.
Another three boatloads of illegal immigrants arrived on the Canary Islands on Saturday, 187 in total that day.

The Foreign Minister is meanwhile starting a tour of three countries in Africa on Monday, where he is discussing agreements to control illegal migration to Spain, and for an increased Spanish presence in those countries.
Miguel Moratinos is visiting Cabo Verde, Gambia and Mauritania, with meetings also planned with representatives of Guinea and Senegal.

He attends the African Union Summit in Gambia on 1st and 2nd July, where other discussions are expected, including with the general secretary of the African Union, Alpha Ouamar Konaré.
Konaré was in Madrid in April where he and Moratinos signed a ‘memorandum of understanding’ for close bilateral collaboration between the AU and Spain on key issues affecting both parties. They include migration and terrorism.

The Minister makes a brief stop on the Canary Islands before flying to Africa, where he will sign the agreement to set up a new body: the Casa África, or Africa House. It will have annual funding of five million € and aims to promote Spanish and European relations with Africa.