Miguel Ángel Moratinos has requested permission to explain to the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission, the details of the negotiations that led to the release of the 26-man crew of the 'Playa de Bakio' tuna fishing vessel that was captured by pirates off the coast of Somalia on April 20th.

The minister will also take the opportunity to outline the government's foreign policy strategy for the next four years.

Somali pirates release hostages unharmed
By: thinkSPAIN
Sunday, April 27, 2008

Government first vice-president María Teresa Fernández de la Vega was unwilling to confirm rumours that a ransom payment of $1.2 million US dollars (around €768,000 euros) led to the safe release of the 26-man crew of the 'Playa de Bakio' yesterday.

Ms De la Vega said that the government is "satisfied" that the crisis is over, and congratulated those responsible for handling the negotiations, which were held in London.

Escorted by the Spanish navy frigate, the 'Méndez Nuñez', the 'Playa de Bakio', with its entire crew on board, is making for the Seychelle Islands, where they are expected to arrive next Wednesday, and from where they will be flown home.

The minister was also unwilling to discuss the fate of the pirates, but confirmed that Spanish intelligence agents investigating the incident are pursuing a number of potential lines of inquiry.

Ms De la Vega also pointed out that the Spanish government is working on a proposal to put before the European Union calling for a joint approach to deal with the problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia.

Somali pirates name ransom demands
By: thinkSPAIN
Thursday, April 24, 2008

According to latest reports, the pirates who captured a Basque tuna fishing boat off the coast of Somalia last Sunday have demanded €400,000 euros for the safe release of the 26 hostages, 13 of whom are Spanish.

In related news, it seems that four Spanish Air Force planes have been sent to the area to keep an eye on the pirates from above and provide support for a possible special forces rescue mission.

Spain's Foreign Affairs minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos confirmed offcially yesterday that an Orion spotter plane equipped with radar had been deployed to provide air cover for the Spanish Navy newest battleship, the 'Méndez Núñez', which is now in place after being diverted from manoeuvres in the Red Sea.

According to a report in today's El País, the three other Spanish Air Force planes are a Falcon fighter jet, a Hercules transport plane and a Boeing 707.

Somali troops deployed to free hostages and execute pirates
By: thinkSPAIN
Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Troops under the control of the regional government of Puntlandia in Somalia have been tasked with liberating the 26-man crew of the Basque-registered tuna fishing boat, the 'Playa de Bakio' (main photo), which was seized by pirates in international waters off the Somali coast last Sunday. "We've sent our troops to the Spanish boat, which is moored near Garaad. We hope to free the ship successfully," said regional Security chief Mr Somatar yesterday.

The announcement followed a previous statement to confirm that a Dubai-registered vessel, the 'Al-Khaleej', which was seized near Bosasu by a different gang of pirates last Monday, had been recaptured after a brief battle during which three of the bandits were injured. "The punishment for piracy in this country is death. They will be executed," explained Bosasu mayor, Abdirizak Hared.

When asked about the statements, Spanish Foreign Affairs minister, Miguel Ángel Moratinos said that the Spanish government is grateful for the efforts of the Puntlandia authorities, but insisted that a peaceful resolution through negotiation remains the preferred option at this stage. To this end, the Spanish ambassador in Kenya, Nicolás Martín Cinto, is in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, to handle the crisis.

Meanwhile, the Spanish Navy's most modern battle ship, the 'Méndez Núñez', which was on manoeuvres in the Red Sea, continues to steam towards the Somali coast should negotiations break down.

Worryingly, news from the hostages indicates that the four original pirates have now been joined by six others, all of whom seem to have had "military training."

Somali pirates seize Spanish tuna boat
By: thinkSPAIN
Monday, April 21, 2008

A Basque-registered fishing boat with a crew of 26, half of whom are Spanish, was boarded and seized by four pirates armed with grenade launchers, in international waters off the coast of Somalia at around 1pm yesterday lunchtime. Military and diplomatic options are being pursued.

A spokesman for the Foreign Affairs ministry explained that staff at the Spanish embassy in Kenya have begun negotiations with the appropriate local authorities to end the crisis peacefully while the Defence ministry has dispatched a Spanish military frigate to the scene and is in contact with those of Spain's allies with military forces in the area.

According to the Agriculture ministry, all 26 members of the crew are safe and well though their boat - the 'Playa de Bakio' - sustained some minor damage in the skirmish that led to its seizure.

Earlier this month French special forces captured six pirates who had seized a luxury yacht ('Le Ponant', second photo) and held 30 captives hostage for a week until their ransom demands had been met. The more than €200,000 ransom money was recovered in the raid.

After more than 17 years without a stable government, the coastal waters of Somalia - where more than 25 ships were captured last year alone - are considered among the most hazardous in the world. Merchant ships are advised to stay at least 200 miles from shore to minimise the risk of being attacked by pirates.

The 'Playa de Bakio' is based in the Basque town of Bermeo. Of the thirteen Spanish crew, five are thought to be Basque and eight from Galicia. The remaining thirteen are believed to be African.