The Diplomat
United States Ambassador to Spain Julissa Reynoso on Wednesday night urged Spaniards and Americans to reject hate speech and the rise of xenophobic rhetoric against immigration.
Reynoso previewed the celebration of Independence Day in the United States on 4 July with a reception at the Plaza de Toros de las Ventas, which was attended by a large number of people, who were surprised by a performance by singer David Bisbal.
Among those attending were the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas; several state secretaries, such as the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ángeles Moreno; the ambassadors’ introducer, María Sebastián de Erice; the Director General of the United Nations, Cecilia Robles; the Director General for Latin America, Enrique Yturriaga; the Director of the AECID, Antón Leis; the Deputy Director General for North America, Carlos Medina; and a large group of diplomats.
Also in attendance were the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, and representatives of various political parties, along with most of the ambassadors accredited in Spain and executives of major Spanish companies.
After the entry of the US flag, carried by members of the Marines, the Spanish national anthem was played, followed by the singer Ruth Lorenzo, who sang the US anthem.
Afterwards, the ambassador took the floor to thank those present for their attendance and, in particular, the minister counsellor of the Embassy, Conrad Tribble, who is leaving his post to go to another destination.
Julissa Reynoso recalled the visit of US President Joe Biden and the NATO summit held barely a year ago in Madrid, and affirmed that since then, Spain and the United States have “strengthened and broadened their excellent relationship”. She also alluded to the visit of the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, to the White House last May and various agreements signed, indicating that the two countries “have demonstrated increasingly close and historic ties, at all levels”.
“Spain, as President Biden said when he came to Madrid last year, is an indispensable ally, a partner, a friend of the United States”, she said. She went on to say that “relations between Spain and the United States are evident, not only between governments, but also between people”. She stressed that “tens of thousands of students and tourists travel every year to this great country and particularly to this great city, which is Madrid”.
The ambassador then emphasised that “our investment relationship could not be more solid”, recalling that “the United States is the leading foreign investor in Spain, and Spain is one of the most important investors in the United States”. She also stressed that, for almost 70 years, “Spain has added members of the Armed Forces, here in Rota and in Morón, who consider Spain their home during their stay”.
Julissa Reynoso went on to say that the “strong and prosperous” relationship embodies “our common values and aspirations”. “Respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law are fundamental values that unite our countries and our peoples,” she said.
She also said that “Spain’s firm support and contributions to Ukraine in the face of Russia’s brutal invasion bear witness to our shared commitment to the defence of these values”. Together,” she added, “we stand firm in defence of those who face adversity.
However, the ambassador emphasised that the challenges facing both societies must also be addressed, noting: “The current Joe Biden Administration is the most diverse in our history. We take up the fight for equality, knowing that the United States also has a long way to go to ensure that all people are treated equally. We urge everyone to reject hate speech and the rise of xenophobic rhetoric against immigration. I stand before you myself as an immigrant and a public servant committed to my country. And I am not alone”.
She concluded by reiterating that the United States and Spain renew their commitment to building countries that exemplify the ideals of democracy, freedom, human rights and equal opportunity for all.
