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 Editorials | Issues | January 2007 
Calderón Not Bothered by LatAm Leftists
 El Universal
| | Mexican President Felipe Calderon, left, gestures during a join press conference with Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, right, after a meeting at the Moncloa Palace, in Madrid, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007. Mexican President Felipe Calderon arrived Monday in Spain for a two-day visit expected to focus on increased economic and political cooperation between the two countries. (AP/Daniel Ochoa de Olza) |
Madrid - President Felipe Calderón said Tuesday he is not worried by the emergence of left- leaning nationalist governments in Latin America, insisting the region´s countries can get along despite their policy differences.
"We have no fear at all. On the contrary, we think the plurality and diversity that exists among countries enriches Iberoamerica," Calderón said at a joint news conference in Madrid with Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
On the presence of leftist presidents in Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua, the conservative Calderón said there was no reason that the region´s efforts to gain strength through acting in unison should suffer because of diversity of political and economic strategy.
"In the end, we are mature peoples with a great future, and I know we will be able to understand each other, beyond our differences," said Calderón at Rodríguez Zapatero´s residence and office on Madrid´s outskirts.
Rodríguez Zapatero also backed closer dialogue among Latin American countries, despite any divergent political tendencies, and said he respected the right of citizens to elect any government they chose.
"Spain has a policy of maximum understanding above all political colors," he said.
He highlighted the fact that some decades ago many countries in Latin America were ruled by military dictatorships.
"Today we have a democratic scenario in Latin America," Rodríguez Zapatero said. "The effort of cooperation, the good relationship within the Latin-American countries, is fundamental."
Calderón arrived in Spain on Monday at the end of a six-day tour of Europe that included stops in Germany, Britain and Switzerland, where he attended the World Economic Forum in Davos with other world leaders.
Calderón, making his first visit to Madrid since taking office Dec. 1, aimed to showcase his country´s opportunities for investment.
Spain is Mexico´s main European Union trade partner. Between 2000 and 2005, Spain invested some US$19.4 billion, mainly in the telecommunications, electrical and bank sectors in Mexico.
Also in 2006, the countries´ bilateral trade totaled around US$6 billion, doubling the figure of 2000. The two leaders stressed that they wanted burgeoning Spanish- Mexican trade ties to improve even more.
"Mexico is an essential ally for Spain," said Rodríguez Zapatero. "Spain and Mexico have a powerful, intense and strategic bilateral relationship, I have confidence that those ties with this new government are kept or even increased," he added.
"Spain is the No. 1 European investor in Mexico, and Mexico is the No. 1 Latin American investor in Spain, this relation not only has to continue, but to grow even more," Calderón said.
"We are proud of our common past, we will be proud of our common future," he added.
Calderón said he backed Zapatero´s battle against the armed Basque separatist group ETA, which in recent decades had used Mexico as a safe haven for militants on the run.
At one point, he was asked how many ETA members were in Mexico at the moment but he refused to answer the question.
"My government will continue its collaboration with the Spanish government to give back peace to Spain," Calderón said. "We will collaborate in everything Spain asks us for, but always in accordance with the law that both countries have to respect."
The Spanish Interior Ministry said recently that no "wanted" members of ETA were known to be living in Mexico now.
On Monday evening, Calderón attended a dinner hosted by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia. Among other activities during his Spanish visit, he had talks with Spain´s opposition leader, Mariano Rajoy and met with Spanish businessmen. |
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