ALGERIA REJECTS EU REQUEST TO HOST DRONE BASE TO TRACK MIGRANT BOATS

Aljir, 7 Sha’ban 1436/25 May 2015 (MINA) – A diplomatic source has revealed that Algeria has rejected a request from the European Union to host a base for drones to be used to track illegal migrants on the Mediterranean.

According to Anadolu, the unnamed source said that the Algerian government has promised instead to tighten control over its own territorial waters.

“The EU has asked Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia for drone bases to monitor illegal trafficking of human beings and drugs,” the source pointed out.

“The traffickers’ boats use the North African countries before heading for Spain, France and Italy.”

The South-West Mediterranean countries have apparently conducted a technical study about the most suitable sites from which drones can be launched for the purpose of tracking the boats transporting illegal migrants.

“It has been found that the most appropriate locations for the bases are in the Mednine region of Tunisia, Ain Temouchent province, which is located on the Mediterranean coast to the west of Algiers and Al Hoceima region in Morocco, as well as the island of Malta.”

The European countries have asked the North African countries to cooperate further in order to cope with the illegal migration phenomenon. (T/P002/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)