22/09/2012
In Mexico City, at an event organised by COMEXI, when asked about Catalonia's Independence demands Aznar: No one is going to break Spain He said that those who "frivolously play" at "setting fire" are being irresponsible and will have to abide by the consequences "Those who attack the State attack our future, our progress and our freedom" "A State can organize itself in different ways, but what it cannot be is a fragile, confused and absent State" "A State has to be identified as a political expression of the Nation" Aznar also met with Felipe Calder?n Madrid, 22.09.12.- The former Prime Minister of Spain and president of FAES Foundation, Jos? Mar?a Aznar, has declared that "No one is going to break Spain" and those who "frivolously play" at "setting fire" are being irresponsible and will have to abide by the consequences. Aznar has made these statements in M?xico City when he was asked about Catalonia's independence demands, after his address at the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations, COMEXI. "Spain is one of the oldest nations in history and one of the most relevant of the world. It has had good and bad moments; brilliant moments and more dubious ones. But no one is going to break Spain, Aznar assured. Likewise, he warned that one should not play frivolously with history or historically set fire to nothing. Those who do this are being irresponsible, disloyal and seriously wrong. The law is the same for everyone; those who do not respect it have to abide by the consequences, Aznar said, and added Spain is going to continue; it is continuing now and will continue in the future. The former Prime Minister of Spain also participated in an event organised by the influential think tank Mexican Council on Foreign Relations, COMEXI, which comprises former ministers of Foreign Affairs, diplomats and businessmen, where they have launched and presented the FAES strategic report "Latin America: An Agenda for Freedom 2012" In his address he said "Those who attack the State or question the existence itself of the Nation not only deny a tradition, an inheritance and a shared memory. They also attack our future, our progress and our freedom. They are attacking the right of each and every one of us as citizens to decide in common our rules of coexistence". In this line, he stated that "A State can organize itself in different ways. It can be a unitary or a federal State; centralised or decentralised. But what it cannot be is a residual State let alone a fragile, confused and absent State". He said a State has to be identified as a political expression of the Nation, and as a guarantee of it exercising its basic functions. In other words, the protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens; security; the establishment of conditions for economic development; social cohesion." TRANSATLANTIC COOPERATION The president of FAES has also addressed transatlantic cooperation as a solution to the global financial and economic crisis, about which he said it is true it has affected Europe, the US and the Latin American nations differently, and also that their responses have been different. But I have no doubt that the only possible solution will come from an intense cooperation of those three axes that form the Atlantic triangle. In that cooperation, Spain and Mexico both have a special role and responsibility to play, Aznar declared, stressing that Mexico is the buttress of the Latin American community of nations and that its economic strength, its thriving companies, its talented people and its geostrategic position make it a natural leader and a vital ally. Nevertheless, he stated that Mexico's projection to the Pacific must be compatible with its Atlantic commitment. In Aznar's opinion, this is the main message of this _Freedom Agenda_. We will work together from the double certainty that there's much joining us and there's much at stake for both. Let us take advantage of the possibilities offered by globalisation with reformist and liberalising policies, and a greater commercial opening. Let us work to strengthen the Rule of Law and democratic institutions, and in defence of security and law enforcement. Aznar likewise assured that we must forge a solid political project for the region as a whole, free of personalisms and supported by the addition of the best civil and political characteristics. SECURITY AND PROGRESS Moreover, in his address at COMEXI, Aznar acknowledged the effort made by the Mexican democracy to fight organised crime and drug-trafficking. Violence, in all its forms, can only be effectively addressed when the pre-eminence of the legitimate force of the State is asserted; that is, the Rule of Law. Furthermore, he said strengthening democratic institutions and the Rule of Law must be one of the major priorities of Latin America. In this sense, he also added that without security, there's no social development, or economic progress, or a future of prosperity. MEETING WITH CALDER?"N AND TRIP TO PER? During his stay in Mexico, Aznar also had the opportunity to hold a meeting with the outgoing president, Felipe Calder?n, in the official residence of the latter at Los Pinos, where he was handed a copy of the FAES report on Latin America. In addition to this, Aznar had a meeting with the National Executive Board of the Partido Acci?n Nacional, PAN. Lastly, Aznar will travel to Lima on the 24 to open the first edition of the FAES Campus Peru "Political Stability and Freedom: The Keys to Prosperity", celebrated at San Ignacio de Loyola University (Av. La Fontana, 550 ?" Distrito de La Molina). During this opening event, taking place at 12:30 am, Aznar will also launch the FAES strategic report 'Latin America: An Agenda for Freedom 2012' with the vice-president of Peru, Marisol Espinoza Cruz, and the founding president of San Ignacio de Loyola University, Ra?l D?ez Canseco Terry. The document, an updated and extended edition of the one published by FAES in 2007, analyses Latin America"s situation and future while promoting the joining of the like-minded around shared ideas of liberal democracy, respect for individual freedoms, validity of the Rule of Law, institutional strengthening and open economy.