AMBASSADOR WAYNE AND U.S. CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION MEET FOREIGN MINISTER TAIANA AND MINISTER DE VIDO

January 30, 2009

Ambassador Wayne with a Representative of the US Congress and Minister Taiana

Ambassador Wayne accompanied on January a visiting group of US congressional representatives, headed by Representative Jerry Costello (Democrat-Illinois), to meetings with Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana and Planning Minister Julio de Vido.

The delegation was formed by Representatives Costello, Jimmy Duncan (Republican-Tennessee), Solomon Ortiz (Democrat-Texas), Tim Holden (Democrat-Pennsylvania), Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democrat-Texas), Steve Latourette (Republican-Ohio), Henry Brown (Republican-South Carolina), and Dan Lapinski (Democrat-Illinois).

“Our visitors today are eight of the most important legislators in the US Congress. We thank Foreign Minister Taiana and Minister De Vido for sharing their vision on global issues, something that was truly appreciated by the representatives,” Ambassador Wayne said.

The representatives told the ministers about their priority to expand the bilateral relationship in the fields of civil aviation and port security. “Both areas are important parts of our joint effort to secure increasing bilateral trade and exchange,” Representative Costello said. 

The meetings were also useful to discuss US relations with the region in the dawn of the President Barack Obama administration. The President has referred to the need to open “a new chapter” in US relations with Latin America.

“Visits like this help us to continue to construct our solid bilateral relationship and to strengthen its future perspectives,” Ambassador Wayne said after the meetings.