MADRID, Nov. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- George Argyros, US outgoing ambassador to Spain, said on Friday that the United States and Spain will work to improve their relations because "the past will be left behind."

    In an interview with the Spanish television station Antena 3, Argyros, who will leave his post in the coming days, said that he met with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on Thursday, terming the meeting as "excellent."

    In reference to the current distancing between the two nations,the ambassador said that the US government is interested in keeping "the best possible relations" with Spain.

    When asked why US President George W. Bush did not respond to the call made by Rodriguez to congratulate him on his re-election, Argyros said "it is something we are going to solve at once."

    The diplomat appeared pleased about the meeting with Rodriguez,which lasted a couple of hours, in La Moncloa Palace.

    Argyros said that in the face of the end of his mission in Spain, he had requested the meeting with the Spanish prime minister for a dialogue "in which we concentrated on several difficult issues."

    Relations between the United States and Spain have cooled down after the departure of Spanish troops from Iraq ordered by socialist prime minister Rodriguez Zapatero.

    The United States considered Spain's withdrawal of troops as the end of Spain's support to the so-called global war on terrorism led by Washington. Enditem