Spain Lauds PH Victory VS ISIS-Backed Terrorism in Marawi, Pushes for Greater Bilateral Cooperation
27 October 2017, MADRID – Spain commended the Philippines’ recent victory against ISIS-backed terrorists in Marawi City and proposed stronger cooperation between the two countries in fighting terrorism.
“We commend the Philippines on your recent success in your fight against terrorists in Marawi and we think cooperation between our countries in the fight against terrorism will be good,” Spain’s Secretary of State for Foreign Policy, Hon. Ildefonso Castro, told Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo at the 4th Philippines-Spain political consultations held here today.
During the meeting, discussions between the two sides also covered a wide range of areas for bilateral cooperation.
The Philippines and Spain expressed readiness to sign agreements on air transport and economic and financial cooperation at the earliest opportunity.
Both sides also welcomed the recent entry into force of the Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation and discussed initiatives to implement the same.
They likewise expressed commitment to further negotiations on the social security, and willingness to consider a possible cooperation on higher education.
The Spanish delegation stated that they were “deeply satisfied” with its cultural cooperation with the Philippines, both in the bilateral and multilateral fora. Concrete initiatives such as the inclusion of the Manila Galleon in UNESCO’s “Memory of the World Program,” possible establishment of a Las Casas Filipinas in Madrid, 9th PH-Tribuna and inaugural meeting of the PH-Spain Joint Standing Committee on Education, Culture and Sports (JSC) were also discussed.
Undersecretary Manalo told Secretary Castro that he looks forward to the latter’s visit to Manila for the 5th Philippines-Spain Political Consultations next year.
Aside from Undersecretary Manalo, the Philippine Delegation consisted of Philippine Ambassador to Spain Phillipe Lhuillier, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Maria Cleofe Natividad, Director Leila Lora Santos and Special Assistant to the Undersecretary Shirley L. Flores. END
