“The tragedy that Gaza is experiencing is shocking the conscience of humanity.” The King has once again called to establish a ceasefire, facilitate access for humanitarian aid to care for the Palestinian population and seek a peaceful solution in the Middle East in his words at the reception for the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Spain that took place this Wednesday at the Royal Palace. Felipe VI has not forgotten to condemn the “execrable terrorist attack that Israel suffered on October 7”, and at the same time ask for “immediate release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.”
As he did recently, in his words before the Conference of Ambassadors, the King has reiterated the commitment that Spain has been invariably defending since the Madrid Peace Conference in 1991: “that of two States, Israel and Palestine; with guarantees of mutual security, full independence and recognized borders”.
Felipe VI also recalled that it will soon be two years since “Russia began its unprovoked, unjustified and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine” and recalled that Spain immediately joined the collective effort to support Ukraine. “Our country will continue to work together with its European and international partners to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, which is fully respectful of the United Nations Charter.” In his speech, the King also referred to the migration phenomenon by pointing out that constant dialogue with the countries of origin and transit of immigration is “essential” in order to achieve the common objective of guaranteeing “orderly, regular and safe.
He also recalled that the twentieth anniversary of the 11-M jihadist attacks will soon be celebrated, in which more than 190 people died, to remember that Spain remains “firmly committed” to the fight against terrorism and that the victims of this Violence must occupy “a central place in state policies and international cooperation.”
Present at the reception were the Israeli ambassador Rodica Radian-Gordon, the head of the diplomatic mission of Palestine Husni M. A. Abdelwahed, who wore the keffia on his shoulders, and the Ukrainian ambassador, Serhii Pohoreltsev. The Russian ambassador, Yuri Klimenko, has not attended.
The new ambassador of Iran, Reza Zabid, who like his predecessors has shaken the hand of the King but not the Queen, whom he has greeted, in the Japanese way, with a small bow and joining his hands in front of his chest.
The Kings, as is customary at the beginning of the year, received the ambassadors and diplomatic representatives at a reception attended by about 150 people, led by the Filipino archbishop Bernardino Auza, Nuncio to the Vatican and dean of the diplomatic corps for being the representative of the Pope, the first ambassador to settle at the Spanish court in the 15th century.
The reception was attended by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, in a morning coat, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, in the ambassador’s formal uniform. The King has also worn the mandatory morning suit and Queen Letizia has debuted a long midnight blue taffeta dress that has been adorned with the diamond and sapphire pendant, a gift from Kings Juan Carlos and Sofía, which she wore almost twenty years ago in the dinner before her wedding with the then Prince Philip. The Queen was also wearing a bracelet on her wrist to which she removed the clasp and dropped it to the floor. She herself picked it up, kept it in her left hand and, after her greetings, it was her King who helped her put it back on.
The Diplomatic Corps accredited in Spain is made up of a total of 126 resident Embassies in our country and almost 800 Consulates, 153 career and more than 600 honorary. In addition, another 49 countries are accredited to Spain, but have residence in Paris, London, Brussels or Geneva. On the other hand, 42 international organizations have headquarters in Spain.
