Speech by the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, at the event to commemorate European Remembrance Day for the Victims of Terrorism

Gallery of the Royal Collections, Madrid

SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN, PEDRO SÁNCHEZ

Your Majesties, President of Lower House of Parliament, President of the Upper House of Parliament, Ministers, Vice-President of the European Commission, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Belgian Minister of for Home Affairs, authorities, relatives, victims of terrorism, ladies and gentlemen.

Twenty years ago today, Madrid was a city in shock, deeply wounded. The people of Madrid, like all Spaniards, had suffered for decades from terrorist barbarity and unfortunately knew all too well the sensation of dawn breaking under the sign of bombs or murder.

But that terrible morning, disbelief gave way to grief. To the terrible images of mobiles ringing among the masses of iron; to the silence of spaces that were travelled daily by thousands of people; to the anguish and uncertainty of knowing whether a father, a daughter or a brother was travelling on those trains.

It is true that on 11 March, Spaniards already had experience of terrorism. A very tough experience.

But no one can get used to such blind violence, no one should get used to living with barbarism. Anyone who experienced that extreme manifestation of violence at first hand will never forget it, just as cities like New York, London, Paris, Oslo, Barcelona, Nice, Brussels and so many others will never forget it.

Yet we need to set aside a day to remind ourselves of this.

Today we commemorate the European Remembrance Day for the Victims of Terrorism.

It is necessary to remember, but this memory must be active, mobilising. The memory of what happened in the past must be kept alive. But it must also be a spur for the present and for the future, so that it does not happen again, and so that the victims, survivors and relatives can always count on our solidarity and support.

It is a matter of dignity to remember.

The dignity of those whose lives were taken away from them by terrorists.

The dignity of those who survived but have never been able to heal their wounds, to free themselves from the burden of physical and intellectual suffering.

The dignity of those who, after an act of terrorism, will no longer be able to free themselves from this burden.

The dignity of the people who, through associations, foundations and civic movements, keep the flame of memory alive, make the problems of the victims visible, support them morally and materially, and defend their rights.

Memory, truth, justice and reparation. These are the principles of that dignity.

The dignity of public servants, of the members of the State Law Enforcement Forces and Agencies; of the armed forces which, as a symbol of the defence of these shared values, were one of their main objectives in our country.

The dignity, in short, of the whole of society, which must make the suffering of its members its own.

Ladies and gentlemen, we must remember to defend the human rights that terrorists deny, and to reinforce the rule of law, which is their main vaccine. To prevent terrorist crimes from going unpunished. To improve prevention mechanisms, and to ensure that no one can be attracted by the hateful ideas that unfortunately circulate on the networks. To vindicate the principles of coexistence, of respect, which are the best antidote to terrorist violence and its breeding ground: fanaticism, unreason, intolerance.

And also to protect Europe. Not only as a physical space, but as an ideal of justice and freedom; of humanist and civilising values.

We will never forget the images of French and Italian citizens carrying Spanish flags in solidarity with the victims of 11 March. Years later, millions of Europeans replaced their social media profile picture with the image of the French flag after the terrible attacks in Paris in November 2015.

The European ideal is built on the collective successes achieved in these decades of union. But also about shared pain in adversity. The one that we feel as our own, even if the blow of terror strikes at the other end of the continent, hundreds of kilometres away from our homes.

In joy and in sorrow, we know that we are not alone. We have each other: 27 countries united in diversity. United in a project, unique in the world, of political consultation, peace and also economic development. But above all, united in a community of values.

The first of these is solidarity, the value that contributes most to raising European awareness. On it stands our determination to fight together against barbarism by strengthening cooperation at all levels.

Because fighting terror also means acting against the causes that fuel regional conflicts. It is to prevent fanatics from turning desperation into a weapon to attack the principles of freedom and respect for human rights so closely associated with the European ideal.

This is a day of remembrance and emotional remembrance, but it is also a day of vindication.

Because we cannot give life back to those from whom it was vilely taken. We can barely mitigate the suffering, the anguish, the indignation of those who have lost loved ones or had their lives shattered.

But we can, and must, keep their memory alive. We must work for the respect of human rights, starting with the most important ones: the right to life and the right to freedom.

Democracy, the rule of law and social rights are the hallmarks of a united Europe that fanatics of all stripes will never be able to destroy. May the values of peace, coexistence, truth, justice and reparation guide us in this endeavour. Always in remembrance of the victims, whose memory we invoke today.

Every 11 March and every day of the year.

Thank you.

Non official translation