Felipe VI, has claimed responsibility for this Thursday the role of his father, Juan Carlos I, “a witness and a participant to direct [the] profound and significant transformation of Spain” after the recovery of democracy. It has also emphasized the task of his mother, Queen Sofía, at the time of “project” the cooperation and solidarity of Spanish in the rest of the world.
The King has uttered these words at the opening of the photographic exhibition “40 years of Spanish democracy, a success story”, which is part of the commemorative events of the fortieth anniversary of the Constitution. Given in addition the fact that Juan Carlos I has been the subject of harsh criticism for his photo at the end of last week in Abu Dhabi with the saudi prince Mohamed Bin Salman, a suspect in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
In his speech, the King has ensured that Spain is “now a country of reference in many areas of international life” and “is perceived abroad as Betnano a country serious, reliable, respectful of international law and committed to the cause of peace” and the promotion of human rights.
The event was attended, in addition to the Nobel prize of Literature Mario Vargas Llosa, the minister of Foreign Affairs, José Borrell, and five of his predecessors: Marcelino Oreja, Carlos Westendorp, Miguel Angel Moratinos, José Manuel García-Margallo and Alfonso Dastis.
Borrell has expressed her “deep pride” for the fact that the King represents Spain in international forums (the Saturday you will attend the inauguration of the new president of mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador) and has stressed that it was the Constitution and the democracy that “toppled the Pyrenees” and broke the isolation of Spain.
The minister criticized those who “from ignorance” denostan the work done in the last 40 years and has shown to be “reasonably satisfied” of the place occupied by Spain in the international scene, despite the fact that the 909 diplomats-spaniards “are still few,” and that the working conditions of the personnel on the outside “are not at the height of their effort and dedication.”
The exhibition “40 years of diplomacy in a democracy”, in the Casa de America in Madrid, travels to the most relevant milestones of the Spanish foreign policy in the last four decades and personified through 14 anonymous citizens, from cooperating to businesspeople, military personnel who have participated in international missions or children of exiles. It also includes a cycle of conferences.
