Don’t underestimate the impact of a face to face meetings.

Anyone who has worked in Latin America will know that nothing really replaces face to face contact for increasing understanding and building relationships. That is why it is so positive for the UK’s relationship with Guatemala that one of the first visits by Foreign Minister Fernando Carrera has been to the UK.

His meeting with the Foreign Secretary William Hague showed there are a range of issues on which they hold similar views. One of these is the importance they both attach to using international mechanisms to prevent violence against women. Another is the search for peace in countries such as Mali and Syria via UN Security Council cooperation. And a further example is the need to agree follow up to the Millennium development goals.

The Minister also talked about issues closer to home for Guatemala. These included a speech on regional integration at Canning House and a round table on drugs policy echoing the themes for Guatemala’s hosting of the OAS general Assembly in June.

On a personal note I think it is good that education was such a key theme of the visit. Foreign Minister Carrera spoke to students at the LSE and met David Willetts, the Minister for Universities and Science. The Embassy will build on this theme of education during British Week 2013, when LSE representatives will be paying a reverse visit to Guatemala. If you want to find out more about their public engagements please follow the link. Like I say, there is nothing like meeting face to face to help build up a relationship, so we hope to see you there.