By Peter Richards
Prime Minister Mariano Rojoy addressing regional addressing regional leaders (CMC Photo)
Antigua, CMC – Spain Wednesday reiterated its commitment to help in the socio-economic development of the Caribbean insisting that it is not a “’short-term partner”.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rojoy told Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders that his country’s ties with the Caribbean “have always been intense” and that “we have learned from our common past in order to continue writing together, our present and our future.
“Over these years, we have become very valuable allies and Spain is going to continue to be an active partner in the region, with a high degree of involvement and commitment,” he said, noting that the European country has a strong diplomatic presence in the region.
“We are not cutting back on our presence, but rather expanding it,” Prime Minister Royjoy said, adding that “we are one of the European countries with the highest profile in CARICOM.
“It is n longer possible to talk about a Spain dedicated solely to Latin America or the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. Today we have very important positions in the energy industry in Trinidad and Tobago, in Jamaica we are deeply involved in tourism and in Haiti, as development partners.
“We are expanding our bilateral political dialogue with the remaining countries and addressing policies of common interest, such as tourism, energy, security and water”.
Spain and the Caribbean will later this week celebrate 15 years of the first cooperative agreement between them, and Rojoy told the regional leaders assembled here for their annual summit that “without forgetting the past, we were seeking to lay the foundations for a relationship that took into account the ties woven among our citizens over time.
“We wanted to forge for present and future generations, ties of cooperation, friendship and fraternity, going far beyond the principles and values that we share.”
The Spanish prime minister said that the relationship has achieved a great deal, making reference to various other initiatives such as the CARICOM-Spain Joint Fund.
“Thanks to these, Spain has remained among ye organisation’s top ten donors. Over the past decade, more than 20 million dollars have been disbursed, without counting bilateral contributions, especially important in the case of Haiti,” Rojoy added.
Rojoy also promised to help the Caribbean deal with the impact of climate change as it has done over the years with Latin America.
In his address, the Spanish prime minister said that his country consistent with its determination to be good fiend to developing countries like the Caribbean has presented its candidacy for a non- permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council in 2015-16.
“Spain, we are convinced, will be an excellent advocate for the Caribbean’s interests, especially at a time when the Security Council’s agenda will surely be enormously complex and full, given the turbulent international situation.
“Therefore it would be a great honour for us to be able to count on your trust, backed by Spain’s track record, our know-how, our involvement and our high profile in the Caribbean,” he added.
Spain and CARICOM officials will meet again in New York to prepare for their fifth summit.
A joint statement issued at the end of the meeting here, indicated that Spain and CARICOM “pledge to further strengthen the stable, friendly and strategic partnership between” them “which is based on the on the common values of respect for the principles of democracy, rue of law and human rights as well as the promotion of sustainable development”.
Spain has indicated that it will support the Trinidad and Tobago bid to become the headquarters of the Arms Trade agreement.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar said that she had been informed of the decision, adding “that is very heartening news”.
