Text and photos: Juan David Latorre
Following the 10th International Congress of the Spanish Language, held from October 14th to 17th in the city of Arequipa, we interviewed the Peruvian Ambassador to Spain, Luis Iberico (former congressman and member of the conservative Alliance for Progress (APP) party).
1.- Dear Ambassador, do you believe there is a good path for an unwavering defense of the rights and freedoms of the Spanish language, considering mestizaje (racial and cultural mixing), clear language, and artificial intelligence? Do you believe we are on the right track to achieving these three objectives?
First of all, I want to express my profound satisfaction that this congress took place in Peru, and especially in the city of Arequipa. Above all, it was in response to a suggestion made by our immortal writer Mario Vargas Llosa. A giant, a Nobel laureate, who unites Peru and Spain. Let us remember that Spain was generous enough to grant him Spanish nationality and even create the Marquisate of Vargas Llosa. Something Mario received with great gratitude, but also with a great deal of humor, saying that finally a ‘cholo’ (a derogatory term for a person of mixed race) was welcome. Peruvian Spanish had become part of the Spanish aristocracy. It was Mario who, in Córdoba, at the third-to-last congress, made the suggestion. And what a shame he wasn’t alive to enjoy this important moment for the Spanish language. An expression, as has been said, of mestizaje (racial and cultural mixing), because the accents and expressions of American Spanish were discussed. In Peru, we don’t say ‘coche’, we say ‘carro’. It’s a mestizo language, as are all of us in Latin America.
And the soul of mestizaje, I believe, lies in the language we share, with all its differences, all its forms of expression, and its accents. I think this congress of the Spanish language has played a very important role in that. Because we must recognize it as a mestizo language.
And on the other hand, it is important to see that Spanish is spoken clearly despite its differences, because that strengthens us globally. Especially in times when we are facing the phenomenon of new technologies and artificial intelligence. Everything is in English. And I think that Spanish It is spoken by as many or more people than by those who speak this language. Children and young people are using English expressions more and more. They even write using those expressions. We must revalue our language; we must strengthen it.
That is why policies regarding Spanish in the world are so important, as they also help ensure that Spanish is used in international forums such as the International Court of Justice in The Hague, for example. It seems incredible that Spanish has not been established there as one of the official languages.
2.- But do you believe, Mr. Ambassador, that there is unity among Hispanic American countries, unity for the protection and security of the Spanish language? Is there a will?
I think there is a will. We are on the right track. But this intention must be strengthened even further. I believe that not only the authorities or the 300 people, including intellectuals and writers, who are attending this International Congress of the Spanish Language should become aware of this, but also the general population, the average person, as they say. We have to understand that our Spanish language is a great asset for us as citizens of the world.
3.- What is the What is the state of the Spanish language in Peru? Because in Peru, how many official languages are there?
Twenty-four languages, of which two are powerful: Quechua and Aymara. Many others, or almost all of them, are from the jungle; they are languages of small, respected populations. You will very rarely find someone who only speaks Quechua or only Aymara. The Spanish language is something that united all those communities that existed in Peru since the time of the conquest, even though the Incas were already imposing Quechua as the official language of the empire.
4.- What is the view in Peru regarding the conquest?
We are 500 years on from the day Francisco Pizarro arrived on the American continent. Like every conquest, it has its pros and cons. I believe we need to analyze what happened in a more scientific and less emotional way, which is very difficult, but we must move in that direction. I always say, we cannot look at yesterday with today’s eyes. I would add that history is read backward, but written forward. We must think more about our great challenges of the future and view the past, as I say, with its pros and cons. There were harsh, violent situations, of course there were. We cannot deny that, neither Americans nor Spaniards. But we must also appreciate that they gave us the language. Spain established a viceroyalty, not a colony. Schools, universities, and hospitals were built.
Large cities, like Reinal’s Lima. So, we must analyze these for what they are: historical processes that ultimately constitute a shared history. And let’s learn from our mistakes, but let’s value the positive aspects and look ahead. Spain, together with Peru, still has a long way to go. I believe that Spain is our gateway to Europe, just as Peru is Spain’s gateway to South America.
5.- Returning to the summit of the Congress, King Felipe VI said that “this is the work of the Spanish people, with all their voices, their turns of phrase and nuances, with all their accents, with all their richness and diversity. Let’s not let the opportunity that history presents us pass us by. The 21st century must be the century of the Spanish language.” What do you think of these words?
I find it extraordinary that His Majesty the King has so highly valued mestizaje (racial and cultural mixing). Mestizaje enriches; it enriches Spaniards as well as Americans. And the language enriches itself when it accepts that there are many ways to speak it within a Spanish that must also maintain, in a certain way, a level of purity. But accepting turns of phrase, slang, even the slang (which is already very popular), seems positive to me and contributes to improving and further expanding Spanish, and to making us feel it is more our own in every corner of this Ibero-American universe.
7.- Did the Instituto Cervantes present the Mario Vargas Llosa Dictionary at this congress and receive the Peruvian writer’s legacy in the Vault of Letters at its headquarters in Madrid? What does it mean for Peru that the Peruvian writer is handing over his legacy here at the Cervantes Institute in Spain?
It seems to me that it was the great void that existed at the Institute, not because the Institute didn’t want it, but because Mario didn’t want it, apparently because he was a somewhat superstitious person. So he refused to hand over his legacy while he was alive.
Now that he has passed on, it seems to me a fitting tribute and a sign of the great esteem in which Mario Vargas Llosa is held in Spain. In Madrid, there is already a municipal library that bears his name, and we are in discussions with the regional and municipal governments so that in the near future, an important place in this capital city can be named after him.
7.- Unfortunately, Peru suffered a governmental crisis during those days, impeaching President Dina Buluarte and appointing the then-head of the legislature, José Geri, in her place. What can you tell us about the current political and social situation in Peru?
Regarding this event, it must be acknowledged that, as always, actions were taken within the framework of the Constitution and the law. Our Constitution establishes a process for declaring a presidential vacancy. Conversely, there is also a process for dissolving Congress. And in this case, as in other recent ones, such as what happened with former President Pedro Castillo, there has been scrupulous respect for our Constitutional Charter. Despite everything, I believe these events ultimately strengthen democracy because they demonstrate that the institutions function. And beyond that, we are in a moment of calm. I think there may have been a degree of strain on President Dina Buluarte, whose courage I always acknowledge and will continue to acknowledge in preventing a political crisis that could have turned Peru into a dictatorship, given that a coup d’état had taken place. Right now, there is a very important lifeline, because the general elections are approaching. And there, Peru will decide. This will happen between April and June of next year.
