MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Piñera wants to reaffirm Chile/UK close alliance well into the XXI century

Queen Elizabeth receives a piece of rock from Piñera and First Lady Cecilia Morel

Capitalizing on the wave of international admiration for the miners’ rescue, Chilean President Sebastian Piñera began Monday in 10 Downing Street his official two day visit to Great Britain underlining the close links and longstanding alliance between Chile and Britain.

”Great Britain and Chile have been, are and will continue to be not only great friends, but also great allies”, said Piñera after meeting with Primer Minister David Cameron, adding that “this allows us to look at the present and the future with greater confidence and also with greater optimism”.

Applauded and congratulated by staff at 10 Downing as “The President”, Piñera revealed how emotive it was to be greeted in such a spontaneous and loving manner, adding he felt very pleased because PM Cameron had accepted an invitation to Chile. “Not only did he accept with great enthusiasm but he also wants to re-edit naturist (Charles) Darwin’s route along the Chilean costs” said Piñera.

As to the agenda of the two leaders Piñera said that among the main issues addressed with PM Cameron was how to accelerate and deepen integration between Chile and the European Union, “where we know we have a great ally, England, and how to improve and increase collaboration in such fields as education, clean energies and how to consolidate and launch the traditional and historic friendship between Chile and Great Britain well into the XXI century”.

“PM Cameron and his staff made us feel very pleased and proud of being Chileans, because it’s a message of love and reception for the whole of Chile and for all Chileans”, pointed out Piñera.

He said that as a former mining country, the rescue of the 33 Chilean miners moved and reached the heart of all the English people and “PM Cameron admitted to have followed the rescue operation live practically the whole night next to his wife”.

The Chilean leader gave a piece of rock from the San Jose mine - brought up by one of the rescued miners - to PM Cameron. The British leader responded by giving the president 33 bottles of real ale - one for each miner - and an early edition of Robinson Crusoe, a book about a real-life castaway on a Chilean island.

However Piñera also announced that Chile would sign International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 176 on health and safety rules for mines, which allows miners to talk about their conditions.

“We will have first-world standards, and we will do that in the next 90 days”

He also revealed that his government was revising all mining regulations and had tripled the budget for safety measures “We are changing everything because we have learnt our lesson” Piñera said.

'We cannot guarantee that there will not be an accident in the future. But we can guarantee that we will do what is necessary to have a more secure mining industry in our country.'

Piñera said the mine's owners bore a 'huge responsibility' because they had been negligent and failed to comply with safety regulations, including one requiring a 'second way out' from the mine.

However, the government was also to blame because it had not been 'able to make sure that regulations were being put in place', he said.

Following the meeting with PM Cameron, Piñera and First Lady Cecilia Morel were received at Buckingham Palace in a private audience by Queen Elizabeth II. The Chilean president presented Her Majesty with a piece of rock from the bottom of the copper mine where 33 men were rescued last week.

Handing over the memento in a presentation box at Buckingham Palace, Piñera gave the monarch a personal account of the rescue mission, which the Queen is known to have keenly watched on TV along with over a billion viewers around the world. The private meeting lasted 40 minutes.

From London Piñera and the Chilean delegation fly to France and Germany.