By IANS,
Madrid : Spain has said it wants to forge closer ties with the Arab countries to end mutual misconceptions, resolve conflicts and build trans-cultural understanding, EFE reported Tuesday.
King Juan Carlos made the statement Monday while inaugurating the Casa Arabe consortium’s headquarters in the Spanish capital.
Casa Arabe is a Spanish institution committed to promoting Spanish-Muslim cultural relations and “to jointly combating exclusionary prejudices and conceptions”. Its two headquarters are situated in Madrid and southern city of Cordoba.
“Not only has it (Casa Arabe) transmitted and promoted a legacy of great interest to the new generations, but it also has contributed to greater mutual understanding, capable of erasing stereotypes and expanding dialogue, reinforcing an already old friendship,” the king said.
Present at the ceremony were the secretary-general of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, and Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, among other dignitaries.
Carlos highlighted Spain’s “active role” in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, an alliance that brings together the 27 member-nations of the European Union and 12 Southern Mediterranean states.
The partnership will hold its next summit in Paris Sunday.