On Thursday December 4th Pacifica Institute, Los Angeles, had the great pleasure of welcoming the charming and esteemed Spanish Consul General to Los Angeles, Francisco Javier Vallaure de Acha.
The Spanish Consul General Javier graduated from Complutense University of Madrid in 1974 with a degree in Law and began his diplomatic career in 1979. He has served as the Deputy Director General for International Security Affairs and the Deputy Director General for Southeast Asia, the Philippines and the Pacific. He has been stationed at embassies in Iran, Spain, Portugal, Australia and Tunisia and has served as Consul General of Spain in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and Miami, Florida. In 2005 he was appointed Ambassador of Spain in Angola and in 2011 was appointed the Ambassador of Spain in the Netherlands. Currently he is serving as the Consul General of Spain in Los Angeles with jurisdiction in Southern California, Arizona, Colorado and Utah.
With his well-rounded knowledge and his worldly experiences the Spanish Consul General Javier graced Pacifica Institute with a lecture on Spanish-Ukraine Relations. He began his lecture by briefly reviewing the unraveling events that have lead to the Ukraine’s current state. Key events he touched upon included, but where not limited to, the post-Ukrainian President’s, Viktor Yanukovych, decision not to sign the country’s anticipated Association Agreement with the European Union, leading to the massive protest demonstrations in Kiev’s Independence square demanding the step down of President Viktor Yanulovych from power. In the midst of the demonstrations, the Consul General said, Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in trade war with Kiev, blocking nearly all imports from Ukraine and cutting energy supplies to the country. In turn, this reduced the Ukrainian exports by 25 percent and shrank the economy by 1.5 percent.
Following these unrest were the parliamentary elections that ousted President Yanulovych from power. After the drawing of a new National Constitution scheme, the Crimean demonstrations began which were met by military power exercised by Russia. Proceeding was Crimea’s decision to secede from the Ukraine in the March 16 referendum and its declaration of independence, leading to the evolution of the Ukrainian instability crisis. April saw the seizing of government buildings in the eastern cities of Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv, calling for a referendum on independence. In March, the EU proposed a package of trade liberalization measures to support Ukraine’s economy and Crimean regional parliament adopted a declaration of independence, NATO also announced its was suspending all practical civilian and military co-operation with Russia. Before continuing to Spain’s position regarding the Ukraine, the Consul General shared NATO’s support for an independent, sovereign and stable Ukraine, firmly committed to democracy and the rule of law.
Spain declared that the annexation of the Ukraine to Russia was illegal step and therefore could not recognize this action, as did the UN Security Council. In March the EU leaders condemned Russia’s annexation of Crimea and with the US extended the list of individuals targeted for sanctions. Regarding the tragic unfolding events in this part of the world however cannot go unpunished and those responsible should be accounted for, said the Spanish Consul General; Spain condemns all human rights violations. Spain however is flexible to a solution but says, a political solution is imperative and dialogue is essential.
“My personal conclusion,” Said the Spanish Consul General, “not drown from the EU nor Madrid, is that the choice of hosting Parliamentary elections shows a pro-Western direction of politics.” In order to have a successful government however, he said, there is going to have to be a mandatory reform on government spending. There must also be an aim for a political solution, meaning one that involves dialogue with peaceful intentions. Corruption must also be looked upon with an critical eye as it will be one of the hugest hurtles to overcome, marked by the recent economical hemorrhage of the Ukraine with a whopping 7% decrease in output seen at the end of October. Ukraine’s crisis isn’t just political; the country faces economic default without support. It had been relying on Russia for that help, and now Europeans and Americans must quickly work with the International Monetary Fund to provide a financial lifeline to Kiev and to prepare longer-term economic-assistance programs. The Spanish Consul General concluded his lecture by quoting Immanuel Kant’s words, “Democracy is the best defense that has been invented against war.“
Due to the severity of time the Q&A was conducted in a one-on-one manner. We would like to extend many thanks to the Spanish Console General Francisco Javier Vallaure de Acha for his time and elegant presentation here at Pacifica Institute.