MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Spain’s Ibero-America cooperation secretary arrives in Buenos Aires
Jesus Gracia is a former ambassador in Cuba (2001/2004) Spain’s Secretary of State for International Cooperation and Ibero-America Jesus Gracia begins Wednesday in Argentina his first trip to South America with the purpose of reviewing bilateral relations and reporting on the preparations for the coming Ibero-American summit to be held in Cadiz.
Gracia who was sworn in last January 9 is also scheduled to visit Uruguay. Last month the new minister visited Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras escorting the Prince of Asturias, heir to the Spanish throne.
Gracia, 51, has been ambassador in Cuba from 2001 to 2004 during the second government of President Jose Aznar and his last post was precisely in Buenos Aires as councillor to the Spanish Embassy.
The purpose of the visit to Buenos Aires and Montevideo is precisely to review issues of common interest and the coming summit next November.
The Spanish official arrives in Buenos Aires at a peak of tension between the government of President Cristina Fernandez and (EU member) UK over the Falklands’ sovereignty dispute.
Argentina is demanding negotiations but the UK refuses point blank unless the people of the Islands in use of their right to self determination, so wish to.
Spain in the Ibero-American summits has always supported calls for the UK and Argentina to resume talks on the Falkland Islands status, following on the UN resolutions.
This week also President Mariano Rajoy is scheduled to meet with PM Cameron and according to Spanish media speculation will also bring up the issue of the disputed British Overseas Territory Gibraltar, calling for a ‘constructive dialogue” on the future of the Rock.
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Read all commentsMariano Rajoy: “You should negotiate about Gibraltar!”
Feb 22nd, 2012 - 09:01 am 0David Cameron: “Are you negotiating about the Canary Islands, Ceuta or Melilla?”
Mariano Rajoy: “Of course not, they are Spanish!!!!”
David Cameron: “Is there any blood in your hypocrisy system?”
He told this guy in front of all the cameras, Britain will not negotiate over Gibraltar,
Feb 22nd, 2012 - 09:27 pm 0This Spanish guy has been told,
Just as CFK will learn, give her time lol.
Worth noting some of the report in Panorama (Gibraltar's Online Daily).
Feb 23rd, 2012 - 07:16 pm 0“Cameron said more and was more explicit: ”On the issue of Gibraltar, as the Spanish Prime Minister said we do have different positions from the UK perspective. “There’s no change in the Government’s position. It’s for the people of Gibraltar themselves to determine their future and we wouldn’t engage in any discussion about Gibraltar that the Gibraltarians didn’t want us to engage in and I think that’s important to understand.”
The Plastic President and Tin Man should note these words. Replace “Gibraltar” with “the Falklands”, “Spain” with “Argentina” and “Gibraltarians” with “Falklanders” and argieland has its answer. It seems that hispanics can't get used to the idea that they can't have something just because they say they want it.
Incidentally, there have been calls for the Royal Navy's Gibraltar Squadron to be replaced or reinforced with much larger warships. Who will be the first to start losing “assets”? Argieland or Spain?
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