New chapter in our relationship with Spain set to open

President James Michel has said his first visit to Spain marks a great step forward in the relations between the two countries and he is convinced it will open a new chapter in cooperation.

      

He was speaking after a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero at the Moncloa Palace in which many areas of future partnership were identified.

“We explored the potential for a comprehensive collaboration of our two countries,” said Mr Michel.

“We discussed fisheries, piracy and defence cooperation, and our economic challenges. We also talked about promoting Seychelles as a tourism destination in Spain, and encouraging Spanish airlines to fly between Madrid and Seychelles.”
Mr Michel announced that the Seychelles Tourism Board will be opening a tourist office in Madrid and will be engaged in many promotional activities in Spain.

“We have a very strong partnership with a long history in fisheries cooperation, as Spain is the main nation with vessels fishing in Seychelles waters,” he said.

The President said Seychelles and Spain are working very closely to develop fisheries collaboration, and reinforce defence and anti-piracy measures.
 
During his two-day official visit he thanked Spain for its role in the European Union naval force’s Atalanta operation to counter piracy and said Seychelles will continue to work alongside Spain to prevent pirate attacks taking place.
“It is the responsibility of the international community and of the countries of the region to address the Somali piracy problem,” he said.

“They must address the lawlessness in Somalia and help the country to achieve a stable government. Piracy is a result of the problem of Somalia, and we need to address this in order to fix the root of the problem.”
The President put on record his appreciation to Spain for its support in the Paris Club negotiations and for the efforts it has made to reschedule our bilateral debt despite its own challenges.
 
Seychelles appreciates the role played by Spain in supporting the view that middle-income countries like Seychelles needed to be accompanied in their development progress so as to sustain their development objectives. Both countries agreed to continue to work together on this front in the multilateral context.

Mr Michel spoke to Mr Zapatero about opportunities for Spanish investment in fisheries and tourism projects in Seychelles, and climate change and the need for renewable energy sources were also on the table.

Spain said it will send a technical mission to Seychelles to study the possibilities of using solar power on the islands.
“We know that Spain is a leader in renewable energy, and we are also a country that is a leader in environmental protection, therefore collaborating with Spain to develop this renewable energy will help our country to remain one of the greenest in the world,” said Mr Michel.
 
Seychelles and Spain signed a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation, and a second on fisheries cooperation.

 

This was followed by the signing of a declaration of intent in the fight against piracy.
The agreements were signed by Seychelles’ Minister for Home Affairs, Environment and Transport Joel Morgan, and Spanish Defence Minister Carmen Chacón.

“Spain is our prime partner. These agreements will help us to consolidate our partnership and extend our collaboration,” said Mr Michel after the ceremony.

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