Spain to beef up diplomacy

2005-10-19 08:56

Madrid - Spain is to beef up its diplomatic presence in sub-Saharan Africa, home to most of the would-be immigrants recently trying to gain entry to Spain, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Spain wants "to increase its diplomatic presence in the countries of the Sahara where it had no tradition" of diplomatic representation, the spokesperson said.

Cadena Ser radio, close to the Socialist Spanish government, said Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos was seeking to "install bureaux or consulates in countries such as Mali, Niger or Cape Verde in which Spanish civil servants can (...) receive job applications in the country of origin."

The spokesperson added that Moratinos "will before the end of the year visit Ethiopia, Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia, Angola and Senegal."

Immigration from sub-Saharan Africa to Spain has been a major issue in Spain this year.

Recent attempts by thousands of sub-Saharan Africans to break into Spain's North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla from Morocco saw 14 people killed and sparked huge controversy when an aid organisation discovered hundreds of others abandoned in the Moroccan desert.

- AFP