President Solís meets with King Felipe VI in Spain

President Luis Guillermo Solís began his first official visit to Spain on Monday and met with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and with King Felipe VI.

Solís and First Lady Mercedes Peñas — a Madrid native who is soon to become a Costa Rican citizen — joined King Felipe and Queen Letizia at the Royal Palace in Madrid for an official lunch.

The president’s agenda for the two-day visit includes bilateral meetings on cooperation, exports and investment issues.

President Solís spoke about the unrest in Venezuela and vowed to support a political solution to the conflict. He said that it would be a tragedy if the situation “drags Venezuela into a civil war.”

The president also talked about Nicaragua and said “it lacks a democratic regime,” and that this situation is hurting the already difficult relationship between the two countries.

On Tuesday, Solís will meet with business sector leaders in search for more investment from Spain, currently one of Costa Rica’s top investors.

Special guest

Real Madrid’s goalie, Costa Rica’s National Team star Keylor Navas, also attended the lunch as special guest.

At his entrance to the Palace, Solís greeted Navas with an informal Tico greeting: “Diay Keylor!” while he stretched his hand.

See a video of Keylor Navas entrance to the palace: