King Juan Carlos calls for an immediate cease fire in Gaza
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By h.b. - Jan 6, 2009 - 8:10 PM
The Spanish monarch made his call in his speech as part of the Pascua Militar parade in Madrid.

The Spanish King, Juan Carlos 1, has called for an immediate cease fire to hostilities in Gaza. He made the call in his speech during part of the ‘Pascua Militar’ military parade held on this day each year in Madrid.

Don Juan Carlos called for ‘the placing of all the necessary diplomatic forces to reach an immediate cease fire’ in the Middle East ‘to put an end to the dramatic situation of violence and suffering in the zone’. The Spanish monarch voiced his ‘deep worry’ and that of all Spaniards, in the face of the ‘grave crisis’.

The King was accompanied by Queen Sofía and the Prince and Princess of Asturias, together with government representatives to witness the annual military parade in the Spanish capital, a parade which dates from 1782 when Carlos III congratulated the Spanish troops for winning back the Mallorca town of Mahón from the British.

Also in his speech the King underlined the role of the Spanish army in international peace missions, this year celebrating the 20th anniversary, and the monarch, who is the supreme chief of the armed forces in Spain, also remembered those who had lost their lives carrying out their duty.

Among the government representatives on the podium were the Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Minister for Defence Carme Chacón, and the Interior Minister Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba.

Carme Chacón raised several eyebrows by her choice of dress, wearing trousers instead of a long dress demanded by protocol, and added to that with her dramatic make up, indicating that she is her own woman at the head of the defence ministry.

After the parade, the National Anthem and a 21 gun salute, the King inspected the Royal Guard and then the King, Queen and Prince and Princess of Asturias met with the Chief of Defence Staff from the three armed forces, and other military and veteran chiefs inside the Palacio Real.

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