Morocco denounces 'irresponsible statements' of Canary Islands official on illegal immigration
Morocco-Canary Islands, Politics, 12/25/2004

Morocco's Directorate of Migration and Borders Surveillance refuted firmly on Friday the "irresponsible statements" of president of the Spanish local government of Fuerteventura who "accused Morocco of being responsible for the phenomenon of illegal immigration."

The statements were made by the Canary Islands official after 13 Sub-Saharan illegal immigrants perished Thursday near the shores of the Islands.

Thousands of illegal immigrants risk their lives every year to cross over to Spain through northern Morocco, or to the Canary Islands through the south of the country. Many die, or are caught by coastguards and border police, as they try to cross in small boats.

The Directorate deplored in a statement the "tragic incident" that caused the death of the 13 illegal immigrants, insisting, nonetheless, that illegal immigration is a cross-border phenomenon that concerns all partners in the region under a shared regional responsibility.

The Moroccan body qualified the statements of the Canary Islands official as "provocative," saying they are aimed at systematically pointing fingers at Morocco as responsible for the phenomenon of illegal immigration.

The Directorate, set up to crack down on people smuggling networks, recalled that Moroccan authorities work in close cooperation with all partners, notably Spain, and fully assume their responsibility in fighting illegal immigration.

The body recalled that actions made to this aim in 2004 led to foiling over 26,000 attempts of illegal immigration, including 4,989 in southern Morocco. Some 423 human smuggling networks were dismantled in the same year.

These measures led to a 26 percent drop of attempts to clandestinely reach the Iberian Peninsula in general, and -44 percent to reach the Canary Islands.

However, said the Directorate, the irresponsible statements of the Canary Islands' official will not shake the constructive partnership between Morocco with its neighbors and partners, particularly Spain.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan community in Canary Islands strive to give echo to their hushed voice   (5/22/2003)
  Canary Islands' president ends visit to Morocco   (4/25/2003)
  Morocco vows to consolidate ties with Canary Island   (4/22/2003)

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