NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Bahamas is seeking the support of the Kingdom of Spain for full membership in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and in the area of renewable energy.
His Excellency Sir Arthur Foulkes, Governor General made the request as he accepted Letters of Credence presented by Her Excellency Marìa Celsa Nuño Garcìa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, during a ceremony at government House on Thursday, November 18, 2010.
Ambassador García also paid a Courtesy Call on Prime Minister the Rt Hon Hubert Ingraham; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration the Hon Brent Symonette; President of the College of the Bahamas Dr Betsy Vogel and members of the Diplomatic Corps.
In welcoming Ambassador Garcìa, who is resident in Jamaica, Sir Arthur hoped that she would visit the site of the “encounter of two worlds” that brought both countries together 518 years ago at San Salvador.
“Our two countries have shared much since that encounter in 1492. The full potential in our bilateral relations is still developing, although our interaction at the multilateral level has been more active,” Sir Arthur said.
Both countries share a mutual commitment to and an appreciation of the benefits of multilateralism and regional integration as mechanisms to intensify the pursuit of prosperity, particularly in the face of the challenges of globalisation.
Dialogue and collaboration between both countries take place in international bodies such as the United Nations, the Organisation of American States, the European-Latin America and Caribbean summits, also through mutual support of international candidacies and bilaterally through established cooperation agreement with the Caribbean Community, and the Tax Information Exchange Agreement signed in March 2010.
“The Bahamas would welcome the support of the Kingdom of Spain for a fair and universal solution to the existing international financial architecture, as well as for the full accession as a member of the World Trade Organis ation (WTO), ” Sir Arthur said.
Spain is also offering assistance in tourism, culture and energy technology. Ambassador Garcia too noted that Spain and The Bahamas share common values and aspirations; the commitment to democratic values the adherence to the tenets of social justice and a transparent and independent judicial system.
“The recent signature in March this year of a bilateral agreement for exchange of information related to tax matters is the best testimony to our mutual commitment to transparency in line with the international trend for a new economic governance.”
The ambassador said that there are a number of areas where both countries could and should explore closer cooperation, such as renewal energy/environmental protection, energy security and diversification. “The Bahamas has great potential and has already taken important steps in this regard with the recent inauguration of a bio-diesel plant,” she said.
Ambassador García, 46, served in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, having direct concern for Asian affairs. She joined the Spanish Diplomatic Service as a Career Diplomat in 1989 and has also as Diplomatic Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister of Spain. Ambassador García was awarded the Order of Civil Merit of Spain (Rank of Dame) in 1992 and made Commander of Order of ‘Isabel La Católicá of Spain in 2004.
By Lindsay Thompson
Bahamas Information Services
