Above: Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla and Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo in San Juan (Photo: OG Puerto Rico)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla held talks Thursday with Spain’s Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo during the latter’s visit to Puerto Rico.

The two sides discussed issues including double taxation, the Casa Cultural of Spain in Puerto Rico, the Diplomatic School in Madrid, and other economic and trade matters, according to a statement from La Fortaleza.

“Our natural, historical and cultural ties to Spain represent our gateway to Europe,” Padilla said following the discussions.

Also present for the talks were Spain’s Ambassador to the United States, Ramon Gil-Casares, the Consul General of Spain in Puerto Rico, Eduardo Garrigues, Puerto Rico Secretary of State David Bernier and Fernando Eguidazu, CEO of International Economic Relations at Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among others.

Garcia-Margallo began a trip to the United States last week that commenced in New York.