On Monday 13 November, the 1st Meeting for Privileged, Informal and Permanent Dialogue between Argentina and Spain was held at the Palacio San Martín, headed by the Argentine Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Daniel Raimondi, and by the Spanish Secretary for International Cooperation and for Ibero-America, Fernando García Casas.
The Meeting for Privileged Dialogue is set forth in the Plan of Action for Strengthening the Strategic Partnership between Argentina and Spain, signed by the President of the Argentine Republic and President Mariano Rajoy during the State Visit to Madrid last February.
Both delegations reviewed the Plan of Action roadmap and the implementation status of the 12 agreements signed. In addition, they reaffirmed the strategic partnership and the need to continue making progress on the bilateral and multilateral agendas, in order to achieve concrete results, with a view to the general welfare of both nations.
The heads of delegation reviewed the trade relationship and investment opportunities, as well as cooperation for development and cooperation in the fields of education and culture, fishing, marine scientific, Antarctic, gender, judicial and security research, drugs, consular matters, government modernization, health, human rights, interreligious dialogue and the Alliance of Civilizations initiative.
They also highlighted the historical bonds between both communities, as well as the heritage of Spanish immigration to Argentina.
Both delegations also addressed the situation in Catalonia; in this regard, the Argentine Government reiterated its confidence in the ability of the Spanish Government and of the Spanish Nation as a whole to restore legality and constitutional order, guaranteeing the rights and freedoms of all its citizens, as well as the unity and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Spain.
The Spanish delegation praised the path taken by Argentina as regards its policies to achieve growth, its intelligent reinsertion into the world and its active role in the multilateral arena.
As regards multilateral and regional issues, the meeting addressed the WTO Ministerial Conference, Argentina's G20 Presidency and Spain's support for Argentina's accession to the OECD. Both delegations agreed on the need to reach an agreement between MERCOSUR and the European Union and undertook to join efforts in order to conclude the agreement towards the end of this year.
Finally, Deputy Foreign Minister Raimondi outlined the arguments of Argentina's position in relation to the Question of the Malvinas Islands and thanked Spain for its historical and valuable support for the legitimate sovereignty rights of the Argentine Republic. Both delegations agreed to coordinate positions and explore areas of work in all multilateral fora, in relation to both the Malvinas Islands and Gibraltar.
Press release No. 518/17
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