Spanish President Jos? Mar?a Aznar proposed a bold new economic alliance between the European Union and the United States in Gaston Hall on Wednesday. He reiterated the commitments to cross-Atlantic cooperation and free trade that have become the controversial cornerstones of his eight year administration.
In front of an overflowing audience of Georgetown students and members of the international press, Aznar made US-EU relations the centerpiece of his speech. He cited terrorism, unrest in the Middle East, Iraq, weapons of mass destruction and the global economy as threats that Europe and America must actively and positively address together.
“I believe in the relationship because I am convinced that the global interests of my country are best served when Europeans and Americans work together in defense of the principles and causes in which we believe,” he said to an audience equipped with wireless translation devices.
As president of Spain since 1996 and head of the conservative Partido Popular, Aznar played an integral role in international integration in both the EU and NATO. Last year, he met with controversy for supporting the Bush administration’s decision to invade Iraq and sending Spanish troops to the conflict.
His tenure of eight years will end after presidential elections in March, in which Spanish voters will decide whether to elect his chosen successor.
“In the coming months the Spanish voters will have the last say,” he said.
In keeping with his consistent support of free trade, Aznar proposed the elimination of trade barriers between the EU and US by 2015. This would create a free trade zone similar to the North American Free Trade Agreement and the proposed Free Trade Agreement of the Americas, for which he expressed his support.
“Whoever opposes the advances in free trade jeopardizes the economic development of the least fortunate nations,” he said.
Spain’s history gives it a unique and tragic connection to terrorism that could be utilized to end the threat, Aznar said. Calling terrorism “the totalitarianism of our age,” he proposed a new universal list of terrorist organizations to facilitate intergovernmental accord and cooperation.
During the speech, Aznar also offered his support for Cuban dissidents fighting for freedom, and, after a question from a Czech diplomat, agreed to support any proposal designed to help political prisoners in Cuba and organizations working towards democracy.
Giving the speech in Spanish, Aznar balanced the seriousness of the subject with some levity by wishing the Hoya sports teams good luck and joking with the audience during the question and answer period. He even demonstrated his command of English by fielding a question in spite of a glitch in his translation device.
As part of his visit, Aznar received the President’s Medal of Honor from University President John J. DeGioia, joining such luminaries as Afghani leader Hamid Karzai and Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. The Medal is presented to university guests for service and dedication to the goals and objectives of the University.
