Speech by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, State Visit Chile, at the Palace Noordeinde

Madam President,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Netherlands and to have you in our midst. Your visit brings back vivid memories of the State visit that I paid to Chile in two thousand and three together with Prince Alexander and Princess Máxima. On that occasion, we were welcomed with great cordiality. What is more, my son and daughter-in-law visited Chile last February in the framework of Polar research in Antarctica. They are very grateful for the kindness and assistance they received from your compatriots. I am therefore all the more delighted to be able to welcome you here today as the representative of a country that has offered us so much hospitality.

Your visit underscores the growing number of contacts between our two countries. These take place in a wide variety of fields, ranging from cooperation in the area of ports and fisheries, to exchanges of knowledge between academics and researchers. A striking example is the agreements that have recently been signed between a number of Chilean and Dutch universities. Together with colleagues in Wageningen, experts from your country are studying the issue of food safety, while Leiden University has for some years had an 'Andrés Bello' chair of Chilean studies. Various Memorandums of Understanding and Letters of Intent are to be signed between our two countries, some during your visit. These are all good examples of fruitful contacts that have evolved almost naturally. The scholarship programme you yourself have launched, "Chile Becas", is making it possible for an increasing number of Chilean students to come and study in our country.

In visiting several member states of the European Union, you are expressing the importance Chile attaches to strengthening its ties with our continent. For our part, we are equally eager to establish closer links. The Association Agreement your country has concluded with the EU offers numerous opportunities for such contacts. The strong expansion in trade relations seems to anticipate these developments. Moreover, Chile has made an interesting proposal to the EU concerning cooperation in developing alternative, sustainable energy sources.

A political dialogue is also moving forward between Chile and the European Union. Particularly in the field of human rights and the search for multilateral solutions to the major problems facing the international community, a clearer consensus between the two parties is taking shape. This will open the way to a broadening and deepening of political cooperation. Your country's commitment is also reflected in the important role Chile plays, together with the Netherlands, in EUFOR-ALTHEA, the EU's military operation in Bosnia.

Chile is a constructive member of the international community and pursues an active policy on peace and security. In the framework of the UN, your country is making a significant military and political contribution to keeping the peace in Haiti. Individual Chileans are engaged in UN operations in various parts of the world. As host to important international conferences, your country shows its willingness to play a stimulating role in the region.

Chile and the Netherlands work well together in all international fora. Both countries attach great importance to strengthening democracy and human rights. As in so many other domains, our countries are of the same mind when it comes to the resolute promotion of the international legal order.

Madam President,

In recent years we have seen how the people of Chile have managed to place their country's reborn democracy above their own painful experiences in the past. We have the greatest admiration for this attitude, and for your own efforts to help Chile come to terms with its human rights legacy. The successful restoration of the democratic process calls to mind the words of Pablo Neruda 'You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep spring from coming'.

I should like to invite all those present to raise their glasses and drink with me to your health, Madam President, and to a bright future for the Chilean people.