<h6><strong>The Diplomat</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Instituto Cervantes has signed a collaboration agreement with the Victims of Terrorism Foundation to participate in events such as workshops, cultural activities or awareness programmes through artistic expressions that defend “democratic values, peace and non-violence”.</strong></h4> The signing of the agreement, which took place this past Monday at the headquarters of this institution of Spanish cultural diplomacy in Alcalá de Henares, was attended by the director of the Instituto Cervantes, Luis García Montero, and the president of the Victims of Terrorism Foundation, Francisco Benito Valenciano, who later spoke, together with the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, at the closing of the exhibition ‘20 years of 11M. Memory of pain and solidarity’, which is also being held at the Alcalá de Henares venue. “This exhibition of memories of the 20 years since the 11M attack is a good example of what we can do and activities are already being prepared to narrate and tell the horror. Telling is important because there is room for many things in numbers: personal stories, family stories or lives that come to a standstill,” said García Montero during the event. The general protocol of action signed by the Instituto Cervantes and the Victims of Terrorism Foundation establishes the will to collaborate in the promotion of cultural initiatives that “strengthen the social commitment towards peaceful and respectful coexistence, for the benefit of social cohesion.” Thus, the cooperation will focus on activities such as the organization of events, workshops and cultural activities or the implementation of awareness programs through artistic expressions that “reinforce the importance of peaceful coexistence.” The application of the protocol will extend for a period of four years, and may be extended for a further period of four years. For his part, Grande-Marlaska said that this type of “synergy” serves to “build powerful bridges of dialogue and understanding through culture and improve social cohesion around or in relation to the values promoted by victims of terrorism.” For the president of the Victims of Terrorism Foundation, the agreement represents “a collaboration that transcends borders,” because “it not only enriches the cultural debate, but also establishes fundamental points to raise awareness in society and is an example of how culture can be a vehicle for reflection and change.”
