Very symbolic meeting this Monday, March 15 in Montauban, in the Tarn-et-Garonne. On the occasion of the 26th Franco-Spanish summit, the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron welcomes the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez, in a region where descendants of war from Spain are still numerous. The Spanish Ambassador to France was the guest of the morning of France Bleu Occitanie, Jose Manuel Albares.
Montauban is a very symbolic place, can you tell us why?
Obviously, it is a place of memory for all Spaniards and all Franco-Spanish. This is where Manuel Azaña’s grave is located in the Montauban cemetery, he was the last president of the Spanish Republic, he died in exile and was buried there.
Montauban is the symbol of the common history of people who crossed the border at the end of 1939, at the end of the Spanish Civil War. Today, their children are fully integrated French people, but continue to speak Spanish and carry Spain in their hearts.
What do the Spaniards expect from Emmanuel Macron today? That he pays homage to the Spanish Republic?
More than that, that it pays homage to the life of the Spaniards. Jorge Semprún, the Spanish writer, had a very beautiful sentence. He said he had Europeans before Europe. It is also a look towards the future. We must pay tribute to all these people who built Europe and who also fought for the values which today symbolize the Europe of tolerance and freedom.
Spanish refugees who participated in the Resistance were not necessarily always well treated in France. Do you also expect an apology from France?
It’s not for me to say. I am not french. But we must not forget that these people arrived because of a civil war and because of a terrible dictatorship. The reception conditions were very difficult. But today children are fully integrated into French society.
So, precisely, on integration, today we are talking about binationality. Do you confirm that an agreement will be signed today?
Absolutely. This will be the biggest result of this historic summit. Spain has not, so far, an agreement like this with any other country in the European Union. It will be the first such treaty. It symbolizes Europe. There are 350,000 Spaniards in France. 160,000 French in Spain. All these people will be able to have dual nationality and it will reflect well their dual identity that they live from day to day.
The Col du Portillon has been closed since Monday, January 10 at the request of France to fight terrorism. Do you find this decision justified?
Spain has experienced attacks due to jihadist terrorism on several occasions. So all the solutions, all the measures to fight against terrorism, will always find the support of Spain. But the Schengen area is one of the great achievements of Europe. We want the reality of the Schengen area and the total freedom of movement within the Schengen area to be respected and we think a lot about this cross-border society with all its losses.
So, is Pedro Sanchez clearly going to ask Emmanuel Macron to reopen the pass of the gate?
They will discuss this. For many Spaniards and many French people, there is nothing more normal than going to work on one side or the other, or going to buy things on either side of the border. Obviously, there is the fight against terrorism, but let us also think of our citizens.
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