MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Spain calls on EU partners for greater interest in Latinamerica

Motarinos: Called EU members to follow US example

Spain’s Foreign Affairs minister Miguel Angel Moratinos has called on other members of the European Union to follow the example of United States and leave aside the lack of interest on having an intense relation with Latinamerica.

Moratinos said that the current interest of the EU in Latinamerica “is the lowest so far I can remember” while the US is showing the “highest interest” in decades, following on the decision of President Barack Obama for a new beginning in relations with the region and with the Cuban regime as has been proved at Trinidad Tobago summit.

His statements were made during the taking office of the new Secretary of State for Iberoamerica, Juan Pablo de Laigleisa. At the ceremony were present among others the previous holder of the post and current Minister for Health and Social Policies, Trinidad Jiménez, and the Secretary General for Iberoamerican affairs, Enrique Iglesias.

Moratinos argued that contrary to the EU, the US under Obama has “learnt the importance” that policies towards Latinamerica have, partly emulating what has been a long established Spanish policy based on dialogue with all countries of the region, including Cuba.

He added that Spain will try to convince the rest of the European partners on the issue when it takes over the six month presidency of the EU in the first half of 2010.

“I’m hopeful the message is clear, EU is sensitive to the issue and we can work together with the US on having a greater interest in Latinamerica affairs”, he concluded.