"Arab culture is one of the great civilizations of the planet"

He made his diplomatic debut in 1987 with a difficult assignment. He landed in Baghdad in the aftermath of a bloody war with Iran that had been going on for seven long years. He felt the disturbing shock of the anti-aircraft alarms when Persian missiles reached the capital and experienced first-hand the terror of Saddam Hussein's "disgraceful dictatorship", whose deadly tentacles also fell on a member of the Spanish embassy. He left the country a few months before the invasion of Kuwait.

Even so, his experience in Iraq left a good taste in his mouth. "The population were great people. As are, in general, the Arabs. Friendly, open, friendly and outgoing," says Pedro Martínez-Avial by telephone from Madrid.

He arrived at Casa Árabe's general management in August 2017. He had previously served in the diplomatic legations of the Czech Republic, Cuba, Chile, Mexico and Hamburg. Between 1992 and 1997 he was deputy director of the Institute for Cooperation with the Arab World. Casa Árabe was created in 2006 as an instrument of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote meetings, dialogue and collaboration with the Maghreb and the Middle East. It has a budget of 2.5 million euros, two headquarters in Cordoba and Madrid, 18 employees and a programme of activities that borders on 320 events every year.

"Arab culture is one of the great civilizations of the planet. It is an exciting and very diverse world, although in the West we have a very homogeneous image", Martínez-Avial points out. "For any diplomat, it is a luxury to be at the forefront. The Arab world is a preferential area for Spain. Our economic interests are enormous and growing. We are neighbours and we have common problems"

If Casa Árabe aims, among other things, to help understand and bring the Arab world closer to Spain, is there still a lot of work to be done?

There is always a lot of work to be done. Relations between peoples are open and evolving. We must always be there to improve things, solve problems, strengthen ties and get to know each other better. It is an infinite task.

What topic do you not support about the Arab world?

What I always hate is when people speak from a position of superiority. The idea that one is better than another. Instead of looking at each other with sympathy, we sometimes look at each other with superiority. This happens all over the world. All people tend to look at their neighbours in a critical or derogatory way. And we have to look at each other with respect and affection in order to discover each other. Contempt is born from lack of information, lack of culture or lack of interest in others. It is pitiful.

And what is the most widespread prejudice?

This idea of gender inequality, which weighs down the image of the Arab world. We don't realise that there are very different communities. Islam is an enormously plural religion. There are very open communities and others that are closed. This has also happened with Christianity throughout history. Our task is to support an interpretation of the traditions to make all beliefs compatible with democracy and respect for others.    

"I always say that the Arab world is so generous and open that, after its expulsion from Spain, instead of resentment, it aroused sympathy for what is Spanish" 

Do eight centuries of Al Andalus help mutual acceptance?

Yes they do. I always say that the Arab world is so generous and open that, after its expulsion from Spain [in the 15th century], instead of resentment, it aroused sympathy for the Spanish. And its presence left us a wonderful cultural legacy, technical advances, spectacular cities. Anyone who gets off the plane in an Arab country can see that. You say you're Spanish and you've already done half the work. They are naturally friendly and feel closer to us. That is a gift. A huge advantage.

What do we have to learn from the Arab world?

Many things. To be kinder, more polite, closer. The value of the family, which is an element in the Arab world that structures society in a very notable way. We have to learn to live life in another, more humane way. In the Western world we are in the throes of everyday life and have lost many values that these societies still have.   

"The Arab Emirates is a very interesting and spectacular country"  

How do you qualify Spain's relations with the Gulf countries, particularly with the United Arab Emirates?

Very good. It is a country with which Spain has never had any difficulty. There is a large group of Spanish companies working there. It is a particularly pleasant country, although it is one of the few where I have not travelled. It has a great diplomatic embassy here, with an ambassador and a second one that are open, friendly and willing to help. There are many flights between Spain and the Emirates and it is very easy to get there. It is a very interesting and spectacular country.

The latest Observatory of Islamophobia indicates that 23% of the news about Islam in Spain contains some Islamophobic component. Do you know why?

Firstly, we will have to see what Islamophobia is. It is an issue that concerns me. A criticism of anything that has to do with Islam does not necessarily have a hate component. You have to understand that the Western world is very critical of itself. Just as you can criticise Islam, you criticise the Catholic world, our monarchy, our institutions or our government. Everything is criticised here. When negative criticism is made of any element of the Arab world or Islam, it is admissible. It belongs to the sphere of freedom of expression, which is a fundamental right. It is necessary to see what is Islamophobia or perfectly legitimate criticism. We are open societies where people can say what they like.

"The best recipe against extremism of any kind is for people to inform themselves, because it is born out of ignorance"

And what would be your recipe for Islamophobia?

The best recipe against extremisms of any kind is for people to inform themselves, because they are born out of ignorance. Islam must be presented for what it is: a religion of peace and love, which preaches understanding. This is all part of the lack of culture.

Has Islamist terrorism been an unjust stigma?

Absolutely. It does not reflect the reality of the Arab world. Anyone who has travelled there knows that. And we must fight against this, from the press to institutions such as Casa Árabe. That is a deviation from Islam. The fundamentalist movements have caused many atrocities and, out of ignorance, there are those who extend them to Islam as a whole. And this is not Islam. It has to be said. They are fundamentalist versions as they have appeared in the Christian world throughout history. In the Arab world you find people who are friendly and sympathetic. I invite everyone to read and travel in these countries.

Was the "Arab Spring" a simple cold of history or a change with no return?

In my opinion, the "Arab Spring" has played an important role and has left a seed. People rebel against unjust situations and opprobrious dictatorships. The revolution triumphed in Tunisia, which is a wonderful example. And it has left a seed in many countries, where citizens are calling for social change. People count and regimes must keep their wishes in mind. That legacy is everywhere, even in the Gulf countries. 

"Fundamentalist movements have caused many atrocities and, out of ignorance, there are those who extend them to the whole of Islam. And this is not Islam. It has to be said"  

Is Tunisia the democratic beacon of the Arab world?

At the moment, of course. There are other countries that are also democratic, such as Lebanon or Iraq. They have problems, but they do not lack a democratic system based on free elections to choose their representatives. There are also elections in Mauritania, Morocco or Algeria. Can they be improved? They may be. The seed of democracy is present in many Arab countries.

Are democracy and Islam conflicting concepts?

I don't think so. Not at all. In many Muslim-majority countries there is democracy and reality shows that this is not the case. They can function harmoniously.

Casa Árabe programmed a debate during the first semester under the title "What do young Muslims say? And what do they say?

It's a great subject. Arab societies are tremendously young. And they are growing at a great speed with economic systems that are not dynamic enough to absorb the labour force and satisfy the expectations of so many millions of young people, who are the future of a country. There is a seed of instability that is dangerous. This is happening in some countries. Many revolts stem from a lack of expectations, with stagnant political systems, much corruption and inequality. And young people are rebelling.  

"We have to shake hands with our Arab neighbours and move forward together"  

Is culture the best bridge between peoples?

I think so. Culture is also understood as education. All racism, prejudice, phobias of one kind or another are born of ignorance. From a lack of knowledge and understanding. We are all human beings and our similarities are much greater than our differences. Fortunately we are not copies and that is why it is wonderful to travel, to get to know other cultures and to relate to people from different communities.

If you look at the future of the Arab world, what do you see?

I see enormous potential. Enormously creative people and dynamic societies. We think of traditional societies, and that's one part, but it's not the reality of the Arab world, which has an artistic expression and a contemporaneousness like in Europe. We have to work with these countries so that they evolve in an orderly manner and help them to solve their problems. And also to learn from them. This is key. We must shake hands with our Arab neighbours and move forward together.