Rice visits Spain to mend ties after Madrid withdrawal from Iraq

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to Spain Friday was the highest-level U.S. official to visit the country since Madrid withdrew its troops from Iraq in 2004.

In a joint press conference with Rice, Spain's Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said that Rice's visit is a strong sign of friendship, cooperation and agreement between both countries.

In Rice's brief visit, she met with King Juan Carlos and Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

Moratinos said he was satisfied with what had been "a good work session with a good interchange of views strengthening our bilateral relations."

Moratinos said both countries will work together with greater commitment to allow modern politics, institutional, economic and social progress in Latin America.

Since Spain withdrew its troops from Iraq, the European nation and the U.S have struggled to agree on many issues. Spain successively sent foreign, interior, defense and justice ministers to visit Washington. However, during that time Washington refrained from sending high ranking officials to visit Spain .

The U.S. and Spain have close relations in their fight against terrorism and against organized crime, and this was reconfirmed during the meeting between Moratinos and Rice.

Source: Xinhua