FRESH CONCERNS AS BALEARIC CRIME RISES BY 45%

BALEARIC interior minister Josep M Costa has called on Spanish Prime Minister José Maria Aznar to “give political answers to the region which tops the list in citizen insecurity” after a report said that crime rose by 45 per cent in the Balearics last year. Costa told the media that he will submit a letter to his counterpart Miguel Angel Acebes today, seeking proposals, to be co-ordinated with the Balearic government, aimed at improving security in what he described as “one of the leading tourist resort areas of the country.” “I shall probably write a letter a month in order to find solutions,” Costa added, maintaining that “each party should assume its responsibilities regarding insecurity in the Balearics.” Costa has asked for a meeting to sign an agreement on joint action to be taken in cutting down on crime. Security is one of the chief concerns of residents, he said yesterday. He slammed recent government security plans, such as Policia 2000 or the Plan Focus, as “more cosmetic” than anything else. He accused Acebes, and his predecessors Mariano Rajoy and Jaime Mayor Oreja, of being disastrous in public security affairs but wanting to succeed Aznar. In addition to expressing his concern for citizen security, Costa also asked the central government not to support the US over war against Iraq, as this was another of the worries facing the Balearics.