Spanish MFA commemorates 40 years of Spanish Cooperation in El Salvador

The celebration of 40 years of Spanish Cooperation in the country took place on Tuesday 26 May at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, and was attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, Alexandra Hill Tinoco. The State Secretary presented a copy of the commemorative book marking the 40th anniversary of Spanish Cooperation in El Salvador, which details its main achievements since 1986. In her speech, Eva Granados emphasised that the progress reflected in the publication is the result of the commitment and efforts of the Salvadoran people and their institutions, and she highlighted the work of all those involved in Spanish Cooperation, particularly the Spanish NGDO, whose efforts have enabled cooperation to reach the population directly and effectively and form an inseparable part of the history and achievements of Spanish Cooperation in the country.

Prior to this event, the delegation led by State Secretary Eva Granados held a working meeting with Deputy Minister Adriana Mira and her team, during which they discussed the main issues relating to cooperation between Spain and El Salvador.

This first day will conclude with a site visit to a water and sanitation project in the district of Suchitoto, funded by the AECID's Cooperation Fund for Water and Sanitation (FCAS). Since 2009, with the support of the FCAS, eight programmes and projects have been implemented, benefiting more than 335,000 people, with an investment of approximately 70 million euros, and enabling the mobilisation of additional resources amounting to nearly 28 million euros. The delegation will also tour the historic centre of Suchitoto, a district closely linked to Spanish cooperation work in the field of heritage for development. Specifically, the visit will provide an opportunity to learn about the restoration work on the Church of Santa Lucía and the refurbishment of the Town Hall and Suchitoto Market, which were carried out as part of the Historic Centre Master Plan with the participation of the Suchitoto workshop-school.

The second day will begin with a meeting at the Office of Spanish Cooperation between the State Secretary and the Spanish NGDOs, with the aim of gaining first-hand insight into their work and exchanging views on the challenges and opportunities facing Spanish cooperation as it continues to work for the benefit of the Salvadoran people.

The delegation will then proceed to SICA headquarters for a meeting with the Executive Director of the General Secretariat, as well as with the Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs and International Cooperation of the Dominican Republic, which this semester holds the pro tempore presidency of the system. Following the meeting, a ceremony commemorating relations between Spain and SICA will take place, at which the publication "25 Years of Spain-SICA Cooperation" will be presented.

Finally, the Spanish delegation will travel to the José Simeón Cañas Central American University (UCA), where the State Secretary will lay a wreath in memory of the "UCA martyrs" murdered on 16 November 1989, and will hold a meeting with the rector of the UCA and his team to discuss the projects that the AECID is carrying out with the university in the cultural, academic and cooperation fields.

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