"We will work hard to ensure that a political consensus is reached before the end of the year" on the trade agreement between the EU and MERCOSUR", says Mariano Rajoy

Torre Ejecutiva, Montevideo (Uruguay)

Mariano Rajoy and Tabaré Vázquez appeared before the press after holding a meeting and then chairing a plenary session of the delegations from the two countries and signing a Memorandum of Understanding in the fields of infrastructure and transport. The two leaders agreed in their speeches on their interest in stepping up the already excellent bilateral relations.

The President of the Government described the level of cooperation between Spain and Uruguay as "wonderful" and - as did Tabaré Vázquez - announced the re-activation and re-launch of the General Treaty on Cooperation and Friendship that the two countries signed in 1992. "This will take place and soon have positive effects for both our countries", he stressed.

In his first bilateral visit to Uruguay, the President of the Government of Spain pointed out that it is a country "particularly close to Spain", as he was able to see firsthand the day before at an event with the Spanish colony in Montevideo. "The fact that the colony of Spaniards in Uruguay is the largest group in the world in relation to the size of the country's population says everything about our ties". "Uruguay will always have the affection, friendship and loyal collaboration of the Spanish people", he stated.

Support for EU-MERCOSUR Agreement

Pool Moncloa/ Diego CrespoThe President of the Government of Spain and the President of Uruguay also agreed on the importance of taking steps this year in the negotiations for a free trade agreement between the European Union and MERCOSUR.

Mariano Rajoy stressed that "Spain is a country with both a European and an American vocation", and that his government will continue to back the Partnership Agreement with MERCOSUR at an EU level. "This will allow two regions that share values and are hubs of stability and prosperity in a volatile world, and not only in purely economic terms, but also at a political level and in terms of cooperation, to come closer together", he argued. "Unity and opening up perspectives is never divisive, but actually constructive; they step up one's potential instead of dividing and impoverishing", he added.

Mariano Rajoy pointed out that "we now have a wonderful opportunity" to reach an agreement with another round of negotiations taking place shortly. "Through the Commission, the European Union has said that significant progress is being made; we are all of that mind and will work hard to ensure that a political agreement is reached before the end of the year", he explained.

Business leaders and aid workers

Mariano Rajoy praised the economic progress being made in Uruguay which, "in a very complex regional framework, has managed to avoid a recession and has now enjoyed almost 15 years of growth". In his opinion, this progress is related to the stability and legal certainty offered by the country.

Pool Moncloa/ Diego CrespoThe President of the Government expressed the support of the Government of Spain for the "ambitious" economic plan of the Uruguayan Government, particularly in the field of infrastructure, and expressed his conviction that Spanish companies "will be able to make their small contribution" to carry these projects out. This interest, he said, was made clear at the business meeting he took part in on Wednesday morning in Montevideo.

Mariano Rajoy also praised the work of Spanish Cooperation, which is an "important benchmark" in the Southern Hemisphere and has been working hard on this for decades, together with Uruguay and other Latin American countries. "Acknowledging here the delicate work of our aid workers and NGOs means pointing out that cooperation constitutes, similarly to the work of our companies, a benchmark of Spanish presence around the world", he declared.

National consensus on Venezuela

The meeting between Mariano Rajoy and Tabaré Vázquez was also used to address the regional agenda, with particular focus on Venezuela.

The President of the Government of Spain called for a "bloody confrontation to be avoided at all costs" in this country. "The current situation requires the final word to be returned to the people of Venezuela and to start re-establishing national consensus as swiftly as possible", he remarked. Mariano Rajoy advocated reaching a political agreement "in which the habitual rules of any democracy are respected".

Current affairs

Pool Moncloa/ Diego CrespoWhen asked about the ongoing cases of corruption affecting his party, the President of the Government expressed his full trust in the justice system, and that he believes in the rule of law and in the separation of powers. "I will do, as I am doing, everything possible to facilitate its work; I would ask for the justice system to be allowed to work in peace. I have one thing absolutely clear, as I always have; those who do wrong must pay".

In this regard, Mariano Rajoy added that, as long as he is President of the Government, the rule of law will be respected, which "means everyone being subject to the law, whoever they may be": those in charge or members of one party or another.

However, the President of the Government asked for the presumption of innocence to be respected and said that "you cannot generalise" because there are tens of thousands of people engaged in politics in Spain, defending different positions, "who are true public servants".

Mariano Rajoy claimed that "no-one can say that the justice system has not operated fully and firmly under the governments of the PP". In fact, he argued that it is precisely when his party has been in government "that action has been taken, wrong-doers have been convicted and judges have taken the decisions that they see fit and opportune in the defence of the general interest".