How is South Africa seen from a Spanish perspective and how seriously are our leaders considered in Europe?
It has not only been an honour, but also a pleasure to serve the government of President Mbeki in Spain. Particularly because there is widespread recognition and admiration in Spain, on all levels of society, for what South Africa has achieved since 1994. The leadership of President Mbeki is highly regarded in Spain, not only for the considerable domestic progress in South Africa, but also for his efforts to firmly establish South Africa as a positive force for peace, sustainable people-centred development and rules-based multilateralism in international affairs. South Africa’s constructive role in such continental and global initiatives such as conflict resolution on the African continent, the promotion of the AU and NEPAD, the pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals, the WSSD, the promotion of disarmament and the restriction of the proliferation of arms etc., have not gone unnoticed in this country. In this climate of co-operation, what fuels the relationship between Spain and SA
