Speech by President of the Government at official reception to greet his arrival in Guatemala

Guatemala

Mr President,

I am delighted to be here in Guatemala, in this sister nation which the Spanish people feel closely united with. For that reason, I wish to thank President Otto Pérez Molina for inviting me to visit his country when we met in Veracruz in December last year.

It is a privilege to be received with the warm hospitality and traditional friendship that the people of Guatemala always offer us, and which I had the opportunity to enjoy first-hand in Antigua yesterday.

I also feel most honoured by your invitation to take part in the delightful tradition of the changing of the Rose of Peace, which has a deep symbolism for your people. It is very emotive to be here in this patio, in the historic centre of the capital of Guatemala, where 18 long years ago the painful conflict between compatriots was brought to an end with the signing of the Peace Agreement in which you, Mr President, played an important role.

This is a place of special significance for Guatemala, but also for Spain. During those troublesome years we had the opportunity to accompany and collaborate in the efforts that allowed your country to enter into a new period. Guatemala still maintains this commitment to peace, to overcome challenges and to take steps down the path to development.

That is why I have come to Guatemala, because I want to reiterate to you that our commitment remains intact, that we are committed to the future of Guatemala and to that of a region that is now growing in international stature but which has always been important for Spain.

Mr President,

Your official visit to Spain in February 2013, that you mentioned in your speech, was testimony to our desire to continue making progress together and was an opportunity to see how you have prospered and how our bilateral relations have diversified.

The visit by H.M. Queen Sofia in March 2014 also reflected the affection of the Spanish Crown and of our people for Guatemala. Furthermore, this was the final trip Her Majesty made to visit cooperation projects in one of our sister nations.

Spanish cooperation has now been present in Guatemala for more than a quarter of a century and its vocation is to remain and continue operations. It will continue to support initiatives and priorities established by the Guatemalan Government, and work towards the development and progress of all its citizens. Guatemala was, is and will continue to be a priority country for Spanish cooperation.

Our economic relations have been increasingly strengthened over the last few years to the benefit of the business fabric of both countries. Trade exchanges have beaten records and Spain is now the leading European supplier and the third leading investor in Guatemala.

When the Spanish and European markets were weak, our companies successfully opted for internationalisation. In this process, they have shown and continue to show great interest in business opportunities in Guatemala. They are sound companies, with a clear awareness of social and corporate responsibility, and they are leaders in sectors in which Guatemala has a great potential and where there are development needs.

Mr President,

We will continue to be stewards for the presence of Central American countries on the European Union's agenda. The European Union-Central America Association Agreement has been a major step forward to which end both Guatemala and Spain work tirelessly. This is a genuine partnership of confidence between two regions, the first of its nature and its results will soon become evident.

I want to thank Guatemala for its initiative and its efforts to organise the SICA (Central American Integration System)-Spain Summit to be held today. Spain has come here to listen; to see the challenges being faced, the ideas and the aspirations of the countries in the region, of which Guatemala is a key country. And it has come here because it wants to continue accompanying you in the process of development and integration.

In short, Mr President, you can count on Spain to continue making progress alongside your country in working towards the benefit of all our citizens. They are our greatest asset. The feeling of family and solidarity shared by the people of Spain and Guatemala alike is, moreover, the best expression of what binds us as the Ibero-American Community of Nations.

Mr President,

I wish you the very best as I do for Guatemala and for all its people.

Thank you very much indeed.