The Prime Minister, Jeremiah Manele, recommended soccer as one of the areas to explore in the bilateral relationship between Solomon Islands and Spain.
Prime Minister Manele made the suggestion during the courtesy call by Spain’s Ambassador to the Solomon Islands, Her Excellency Esther Monterrubio Villar, last week at the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Her Excellency Villar has presented her credentials to the Governor General last week, confirming her representation as Spain’s ambassador to the Solomon Islands.
After congratulating Her Excellency (HE) Villar on her new appointment as ambassador to the Solomon Islands, Prime Minister Manele emphasized the importance of expanding bilateral cooperation in climate change, people-to-people relations, and, particularly, soccer.
Prime Minister Manele highlighted that, like Spain, the Solomon Islands is a soccer-loving nation and that the two countries should explore opportunities in this area.
Prime Minister Manele acknowledged Spain’s various support through multilateral partners such as the European Union (EU) and the United Nations.
Manele noted Spain’s support in climate change, development aid, and advocacy initiatives at the UN and the EU.
The Prime Minister further acknowledged Spain’s support through various frameworks, including the Lome Convention, the Cotonou Agreement, and the Samoa Agreement. Regarding the latter, Prime Minister Manele assured Her Excellency that the Solomon Islands is in the process of ratifying the agreement, citing its importance for the protection and management of marine biodiversity.
He also acknowledged Spain’s continued support as a Pacific Dialogue Partner at the Pacific Islands Forum. The Prime Minister encouraged Spain to contribute to the Pacific Resilience Facility, the Pacific Islands-driven version of the Climate Change Funds.
The Prime Minister recommended that Solomon Islands and Spain sign a Memorandum of Understanding on a technical bilateral framework to expand cooperation between the two countries.
Prime Minister Manele assured Her Excellency Villar that the government will continue to work closely with Spain and expand collaboration between the two countries.
Spain’s ambassador to the Solomon Islands, Her Excellency Esther Monterrubio Villar, promised to return to the country to visit provinces with Spanish names.
The Solomon Islands was discovered by the Spanish explorer Mendana, who set sail in the 1560s to search for the great southern land. On discovering gold on Guadalcanal in 1568, he believed he had found the great southern land. Intent on colonizing Guadalcanal, he returned a second time but missed the island.
Mendana named the Solomon Islands because he thought it was where King Solomon had obtained the gold to build his temple.
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– OPMC Press Release
