Foreign Affairs minister, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, told parliament yesterday that he has been promised that José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero will be one of the first foreign leaders invited to meet the next US president.

Mr Moratinos explained that he was given assurances by the representatives of all three remaining presidential candidates during meetings in Washington last Monday, that the lack of communication between presidents Bush and Zapatero "cannot be allowed to happen again."

"We're a reliable partner, friend and ally of the USA and it's unthinkable that meetings should be held with leaders from others parts of the world and not with the president of the Spanish government," said Mr Moratinos, adding that "this is something based on the respect they should have for us."

Before moving on to other topics, the minister criticised president Bush directly, saying that "he should have respected democratically" Spain's decision to withdraw its troops from Iraq after the socialist victory at the March 2004 general elections.

Still no plans for Zapatero-Bush summit
By: thinkSPAIN
Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Spanish Foreign Affairs minister, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, confirmed after a meeting with US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice in Washington yesterday that there are no plans for president Zapatero to visit the USA during George W Bush's final months in office. Since Mr Zapatero withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq immediately after assuming power in April 2004, the two leaders have never met officially.

During yesterday's meeting, Mr Moratinos said that Spain wants to improve relations between the two countries, reiterated that Spain is a "partner, ally and friend of the USA," and underlined the Spanish government's willingness to work more closely together in areas of common interest.

With respect to the Middle East, Mr Moratinos said after the meeting that Ms Rice, who has just returned from the area, is hopeful that the Israeli and Palestinian governments will negotiate an agreement "before the end of the year," adding that "I can confirm this view after my recent trip to Israel and Egypt."

There is no such agreement between the two governments over Cuba, however, with Spain continuing to favour dialogue while the US refuses to negotiate until after democratic elections have been held.

Given the proximity of the next presidential elections, Mr Moratinos has also held meetings with the campaign organisers of the three remaining candidates - McCain, Obama and Clinton - all of whom, Mr Moratinos said, are keen to put diplomatic relations with Spain back on track after the Iraq troop withdrawal spat.