BOGOTA, July 23 (Xinhuanet) -- Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos arrived here Friday for a brief visit to "update" the bilateral relations.

    Moratinos, on an America tour that included stops in New York and Brasilia, was accompanied by a parliamentary delegation composed of representatives from almost every party. senior government officials said.

    In addition to meeting with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and, the Spanish diplomat will also meet with his Colombian counterpart, Maria Carolina Barco Isackson, and Vice President Francisco Santos, senior government officials said.

    Madrid considers it necessary to "re-evaluate" its military cooperation with Colombia "in the regional context," in such a waythat other needs of the Andean country, like the defense of human rights and the combat against drug traffic, could be attended.

    The previous government of Spain headed by Jose Maria Aznar hadagreed to sell Colombia under favorable conditions eight CX-212 planes and nearly 40 AMX-30 tanks, but the deal was suspended withthe taking office of the new government led by the Spanish Socialist Workers Party.

    Uribe announced last week that he wished the Spanish governmentwould change the sale of tanks for something "more useful."

    Moratinos will present a message to the Colombian authorities from Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, in support of the policies driven by Uribe "to consolidate the rule of law all over the territory of the country, with a full respect of human rights and fundamental liberties."

    In addition, he will convey the needs of the Spanish investors in the Colombian market and highlight the importance of an environment favorable to increasing the presence of Spanish capital in the Andean country. Enditem