Here's why:
* Tense Consistency: "Stated" is in the past tense, indicating an action that happened in the past. "Has spoken" is in the present perfect tense, which describes an action that started in the past and continues to have relevance in the present.
* Logical Flow: The sentence suggests that the speaker is referring to a past conversation that is still relevant. "Has spoken" better reflects that the conversation has implications for the present situation.
"Spoke" would be incorrect because it is in the simple past tense, suggesting a one-time action in the past that is no longer relevant to the present.