Spain´s Zapatero Welcomes Morales
Bolivia´s President-elect Evo Morales is meeting with President of the Spanish Government Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in La Moncloa on Wednesday, in a nearly two-day visit in the third stop of his world tour.

He arrived in Madrid with a few hours delay for his stay in Caracas, Venezuela, took him longer than scheduled. He´s first meeting with Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos before being welcomed by Zapatero and King Juan Carlos.

After Spain, Morales will visit France, Belgium, South Africa, China and Brazil.

A press release from the Spanish Executive office informed that after meeting Zapatero, Morales will brief La Moncloa journalists, and Secretary of State for Communication Fernando Morales will deliver a speech.

The first fully indigenous president in Latin America is in Europe following his visits to Cuba (Friday 30th) and Venezuela (Tuesday 3rd).

After his meeting with Zapatero, Morales is expected to meet with Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos and executives of the powerful Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations, as well as with union leaders Candido Mendez and Jose Maria Fidalgo.

Meetings with the chief of Ibero-American Office Enrique Iglesias and with Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Jose Montilla are also expected to be on the agenda.

Sources from the business sector have not ruled out a brief meeting with chiefs of Repsol-YPF oil firm as, along with Iberdrola and Red Electrica Espanola, they are the three Spanish businesses with a presence in Bolivia´s energy market.

The only politician who has refused to meet with Morales so far is rightwing Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy.

At the end of his visit to Spain, Morales will continue his world tour, which will take him to Belgium, France, South Africa, China and Brazil.