El Siglo reports that the head of the Spanish government, José María Aznar committed donations for US$30 million to assist development programs in the DR. The commitment was made to President-elect Hipólito Mejía who met with him at the Palacio de la Moncloa in Madrid. During his trip to Spain, the President-elect also had dinner with King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sophia at the Palacio de la Zarzuela. With the King, Mejía discussed preparations for Santo Domingo hosting the Iberoamerican Summit in 2001. The summit gathers chiefs of state from Latin America, Spain and Portugal. The summit has primarily the support of the Spanish government that seeks to foster closer relations with its former colonies in the Americas.
