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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 4 June 2019

Morocco claims success in slowing migrant voyages to Europe

By AMIRA EL MASAITI significantly since the be- Spain's foreign minister, Jo-
Associated Press ginning of 2019, with Rabat sep Borrell, who was on a
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — claiming that its security one-day visit to Morocco.
Morocco is claiming new forces have dismantled 60 Borrell said the funds pro-
success in lowering the trafficking networks and vided to Rabat to date are
number of migrant cross- stopped more than 30,000 "insufficient, but more sig-
ings into Europe as the crossing attempts. nificant than in the past."
country works with its north- Authorities refuse to com- "Morocco helps us. We are
ern neighbor, Spain, in ment on the fate of mi- not giving the country gifts,"
securing more European grants stopped. In addition said Borrell, who is one of
funding for curbing migra- to Moroccans or Algerians, the candidates to become
tion. great numbers come from the EU's next top diplomat.
Foreign Affairs Minister Nass- poorer sub-Saharan Afri- "It's a cooperation that en-
er Bourita said the number can countries. Spanish foreign minister Josep Borrell, left, and Moroccan Min- ables the two parties find a
of crossings dropped 40% Officials have repeatedly ister of Foreign Affairs International Cooperation, Nasser Bourita, common interest."
right, attend a press conference after holding talks during the
compared to the same said the country can't be former's visit to Rabat, Morocco, Monday, June 3, 2019. An Islamist parliamentarian
month last year in the West- Europe's migration police, Associated Press from the city of Tiznit com-
ern Mediterranean route, putting pressure on north- plained in a letter to Mo-
which last year became ern neighbors to provide million) from the EU budget "We are very satisfied with rocco's Interior Ministry last
the main entry point into funds to manage the crisis. for Rabat, which would be our partnership with Spain," week about the "negative
Europe. Spain is reportedly seeking in addition to 130 million eu- Bourita told reporters on effects" of the policies on
Departures have dropped 50 million euros (nearly $56 ros promised last year. Monday, as he stood by the city.q

Italian PM to coalition leaders: Stop squabbling or I quit

Associated Press ment, the parties that on Twitter, saying "We are
ROME (AP) — Italian Prime formed a coalition govern- ready, we want to contin-
Minister Giuseppe Conte ment after national elec- ue and we don't have time
on Monday threatened to tions last year. to waste."
resign unless the two par- Conte, a university profes- There was no immediate
ties in the coalition govern- sor who was a political nov- comment from Di Maio.
ment set aside their differ- ice until the parties agreed Salvini and Di Maio have
ences and continue work- to make him premier, said been at odds over a range
ing on the government League leader Matteo Sal- of issue, including taxes,
program. vini and 5-Star leader Luigi security and a high-speed
Conte made the ultimatum Di Maio must stop squab- railway line to France. Ten-
during a news conference bling or he will offer his res- sions rose in the runup to
that was carried live on Ital- ignation. last month's European Par-
ian TV. He demanded a "clear, liament elections, in which
He was responding to in- unequivocal and also fast" Salvini's party ultimately
creasing tensions between answer from the two, "be- made strong gains and Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte talks to reporters during a press
conference he held at Chigi Palace government's office, in
the right-wing League and cause the country cannot the 5-Star Movement lost Rome, Monday, June 3, 2019.
the populist 5-Star Move- wait." Salvini responded support.q Associated Press