02.07.09 - 10:13 -
Defence Minister Carme Chacón and US Defence Secretary Robert Gates. / EFE
The Spanish defence minister said on Wednesday after meeting with Defence Secretary Robert Gates that Spain will share space with the United States at the Qala-e-Naw military base in Afghanistan.
Carme Chacón also said that the United States will help transport to Afghanistan some 150 Colombian soldiers to be posted at Qala-e-Naw and the other Spanish base in the Central Asian country, located in Herat.
In addition, Chacón emphasized that she and Gates had been "completely in tune" during their meeting.
She also reiterated Spain's interest in contributing to ensuring that the Aug. 20 presidential elections in Afghanistan are "secure, free and fair."
Spain will send a 450-strong "electoral battalion" to help supervise the balloting.
In addition to speaking about Afghanistan, Gates and Chacón discussed the fight against piracy in Somalia, a matter of common interest regarding which the Spanish minister said that the two countries will continue working together.
Chacón's agenda started off on Wednesday with the laying of a wreath before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington.
Her stay in the capital also includes a meeting with White House national security adviser, Gen. James Jones.
Chacón is travelling accompanied by the head of Spain's defence staff, Gen. José Julio Rodríguez, and by the general secretary of defence policy, Luis Cuesta.
