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Chancellor says that Moreno’s visit leaves a more intense relationship with Spain
Posted On 20 Dec 2017
Ecuadornews:
The Ecuadorian Minister of Foreign Affairs, María Fernanda Espinosa, said today that President Lenin Moreno’s visit to Spain has resulted in a more intense relationship between the two countries.
Thus the chancellor evaluated the visit she made to Madrid these last three days, during which she met with King Philip VI and the president of the government, Mariano Rajoy. “We have talked about such important issues as migration, climate change, also the issue of Catalonia and the cooperation that will be strengthened between both countries,” said Espinosa.
The Foreign Minister accompanied Moreno first on his trip to Italy and the Vatican, which began on December 15, where they were received by Pope Francis, and then continued in Spain. The foreign minister, in statements recorded on video and released by her office at the end of Moreno’s first official visit to Spain today, reported that two cooperation agreements have been signed aimed at strengthening the Ecuadorian health system and for judicial collaboration between the two countries.
He said that in the dialogue with President Rajoy there was talk about holding a political consultation meeting at the highest level, next year, although he did not elaborate. In addition, he said that with the highest Spanish authorities there has been talk of issues of bilateral and multilateral interest and highlighted the commitment of both governments to act jointly on international issues such as the fight against corruption or the pact on migration.
He also stressed the importance of strengthening investments and economic relations, and stressed the interest of his country to receive Spanish support in tourism, field in which Spain has a wide global recognition. Espinosa did not hesitate to highlight the commitment of Spain and other European countries to support Ecuador in its request to eliminate the visa for compatriots traveling to the territory of the European Union.
And he recalled that it has been requested that this support from the Spanish Government be “in writing” and that he sponsor this initiative before the European Commission. “Being exempt from the Schenguen visa will be a reason not only for a meeting between the families of both countries, but also for the promotion of investments, trade and tourism.” Likewise, Espinosa highlighted the interest that the dialogue process undertaken by Moreno in Ecuador has aroused before the Spanish authorities, in order to strengthen democracy and achieve national reconciliation.
He also said that in Spain the process of popular consultation promoted by the Ecuadorian Government was valued and will be held on February 4 on various topics such as the fight against corruption, the defense of the environment, the presidential re-election and the fight against abuses against minors. “There is no better thing in democracy than to ask the people, in this case the Ecuadorian people, to pronounce on issues of national interest,” Espinosa added. (I)
