Speech by President of the Government on his visit to patrol vessel "Infanta Cristina"

Abidjan (Ivory Coast)

A very good day to everyone.

I have been in Ivory Coast today and we have held a meeting between the European Union and the African Union - a meeting at which we sought to enhance our ties, get to know each other better and try and jointly resolve the problems that have ended up being problems that affect us all - Africa is very close to Europe, as you are all aware. We held an interesting meeting and we found out that you were here, specifically in Abidjan, and that you have been here since 16 August.

We know, and your commanding officer has just explained this to me, what you have been doing over the course of all this time and until 16 December. I hope that you are all doing well and will continue to do so until 16 December. Please be aware that your mission here is very important. For us, Africa is a continent that greatly affects us and where we have many interests. We are the southernmost border of Europe and both Ceuta and Melilla are land borders with Africa; specifically with Morocco.

We are the fourth ranked European country to export the most to Africa and we are the leading importer of African products. We have many interests here, we have many entrepreneurs, we have people engaged in the world of fisheries and hence this entire function is important.

This is one of the most complicated maritime areas in the world at this time; there are problems with piracy, problems with illegal immigration, problems with drugs, many problems with abusive actions in relation to fishing, and hence everything that you do is most definitely important, above all what you do in teaching sailors from other countries.

And so, I would thank you all very much for your efforts and hard work. For me it is an honour to be here. I lived for many years next to Marin Naval Academy, in Calle Salvador Moreno in Pontevedra and I am unaware as to why they have removed the name of Admiral Salvador Moreno from the street, but I lived there for many years and that is how I continue to refer to it.

I wish you all good luck, I hope things go well and I thank you for your efforts which, in the end, are always to the benefit of Spain.

Thank you very much.

Non official translation