Remarks With Uruguayan Foreign Minister Gonzalo Fernandez Before Their Meeting

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Treaty Room

Washington, DC

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, it’s a great privilege to welcome the Uruguayan foreign minister here this afternoon. Of course, he’s here because of the important conference on the Antarctica and the Arctic. Uruguay has a lot of interests in the Antarctica area. But also, this is an opportunity for us to discuss matters of bilateral and regional concern. Uruguay is a country with whom we have a lot of shared values. It’s also a country that has shown progressive leadership on a number of important matters. And we’ll discuss those as well as the upcoming Summit of the Americas.

So, Minister, welcome.

FOREIGN MINISTER FERNANDEZ: Well, thank you very much. It’s a very pleasure and an honor to be here and to profit from our visit to have a first meeting with Madame Secretary of State. Effectively, we will discuss regional and bilateral issues in the mark of a good and very consultative relationship between our both countries.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Good. Thank you very much.

# # #