More collaboration with Latin America

Foreign minister Maxime Verhagen has said that the Netherlands would like to work more closely at international level with the countries of Latin America. Mr Verhagen was speaking in the Peruvian capital Lima at the start of summit talks between the countries of the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean.

‘Europe and Latin America are natural allies,’ said Verhagen. ‘We share the same fundamental values, particularly when it comes to human rights. However, that does not always result in our presenting a united front at international forums. There are still plenty of areas in which we can – and must – work together.’

Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende is also attending the Lima summit, which highlights the historical, cultural and economic ties between the two continents. The topics being discussed by the ministers of foreign affairs include migration, drugs trafficking and regional integration.

In the margins of the summit, Mr Verhagen participated in meetings with Ecuador’s president, Rafael Correa, at which the Netherlands raised the matter of Dutch nationals imprisoned in Ecuador in difficult circumstances. At a meeting with President Uribe of Colombia, the agenda included the peace process, the human rights situation and the reintegration of demobilised combatants.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 19 May 2008