Spanish EU presidency offers help for quake-hit Chile

(MADRID) - Spain, which holds the rotating six-month presidency of the EU, Saturday offered to help coordinate relief efforts for quake-hit Chile.

"Spain, as the rotating president of the European Union, has activated the existing coordination mechanisms within the EU for this type of disaster" for the deployment of aid to Chile once the damage and requirements are assessed, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

In that regard, it said the government has called a meeting for Sunday of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.

"Spain, as the rotating president of the EU, is prepared to offer, as in the case of Haiti, all its available capabilities in the region to provide a coordinated response to this new disaster that has rocked a friendly and brother country," it said.

EU Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso announced in Brussels earlier Saturday that the European Union will send three million euros (four million dollars) in fast-track aid to Chile.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero offered his condolences to the Chilean people following the quake and said Madrid is "at Chile's disposal to help with anything it needs."

King Juan Carlos also telephoned Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to express the "sorrow" of the Spanish people over the disaster.

The 8.8-magnitude quake toppled buildings in Chile and plunged much of the capital Santiago into darkness when it hit in the early hours of Saturday local time.