Spain | National Day

Embassy Network | 30th November 2017

Austrian Ambassador Martin Eichtinger and Greek Ambassador Mr Dimitris Caramitzos Tziras

Jayne Edwards (Royal Academy of Arts) and the Japanese Ambassador Mr Koji Tsuruoka

The Ambassador of Paraguay Mr Genaro Pappalardo, Mrs Olga Echeverria, the Ambassador of Costa Rica Mr Jose Enrique Castillo and the Ambassador of Ecuador Mr Carlos Abad

Slovene Ambassador Tadej Rupel and Portuguese Ambassador Mr Manuel Lobo Antunes

Chilean Ambassador Rolando Drago, Croatian Ambassador Igor Pokaz, Cristina Cortes (Canning House), Robert Capurro (Canning House) and the Ambassador of Qatar Mr Yousef Ali Al-Khater

Ambassador Bastarreche with the Brazilian Ambassador Mr Eduardo dos Santos

Ambassador Bastarreche said UK-Spanish ties were stronger than ever

Ambassador Bastarreche said UK-Spanish ties were stronger than ever

Ambassador Bastarreche welcomes former UK Ambassador to Spain Sir Stephen Wright and Lady Wright

The Ambassador of Romania Mr Dan Mihalache congratulates Ambassador Bastarreche

Coming together
The Ambassador of Spain, Mr Carlos Bastarreche, in his first National Day address in London, toasted Spanish unity with the finest Catalan cava. Addressing a packed audience, the Ambassador noted that the occasion also celebrated the coming together of the Spanish speaking family in the Old World and the New.

This year has been “a year of contrasts” for Britain and Spain, he said. Both have shared the pain of terrorism and the joy of the State Visit. Now the allies face testing times: “Brexit negotiations are approaching a decisive moment. I don’t think this should be a tennis match. Nobody has to lose,” he said. Spain meanwhile, was working to resolve secessionism in Catalonia by the rule of law. Great democracies, he concluded, respond to challenges guided by a single objective: “To guarantee the wellbeing of our citizens.”

PHOTOS: PIERRE DE VILLIERS