National
Talks with Somalia pirates expected to get underway properly today
By h.b.
Apr 23, 2008 - 8:16 AM

The United Nations is reported this morning to be drawing up a project to organise patrols and take other preventative measures to stop the activities of pirates off the coast of Somalia.
The action, headed by the United States, the U.K. and France comes as the kidnapping of the Spanish tuna fishing boat, ‘Playa de Bakio’ continues 250 miles off the Somali coast.

The Spanish ambassador to Kenya is now in Mogadiscioto try and speed up a solution to the kidnapping, with talks with the pirates expected to get underway properly today.

Spanish Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, said that the safety of the Spanish crew was what he called ‘the essential premise’ in the procedure. He said that there was continued contact with the family members of the crew, who remain, according to the information at his disposal, in good health.

NATO, the EU and the authorities in Somalia are all supporting the Spanish diplomatic efforts. There are also reports that Somalia is to send troops to free the Spanish crew, and that the pirates will be executed. However the pirates are reported to have received support from another similar group.

The Spanish Navy frigate, Méndez Núñez, will arrive in the area later today. So far this year there have been eight similar pirate attacks in the zone.