Majid al-Suwaidi, Ambassador of the Emirates to Spain: "I believe that culture and art are the best and most enriching way to connect two countries"

This morning the Seminar 'Public Diplomacy and Cultural Cities: Shared Experiences' took place in the Palacio de la Magdalena in Santander. Atalayar took part in this event as organiser and participant and it was possible to follow it in streaming through Atalayar TV. Throughout the day, the position of the Cantabrian capital as an active nucleus of culture in the north of Spain and its potential relationship with the United Arab Emirates, a country with a very global vision of the importance of diplomacy in cultural terms, has been vindicated. Likewise, emphasis has been placed on the possibility of connection between two different cultures, but with a common goal: understanding through knowledge.

The day began with the presentation of one of the seminar's directors and director of the magazine Atalayar, Javier Fernández Arribas, who highlighted the coexistence of cultures as the fundamental key to a future of progress and peace. The councillor for culture of Santander, Javier Cerruti, then took the floor to thank all those present for their interest in the seminar and to wish a prosperous development for the start of what could be a close relationship between Santander and the Emirates.

Once the seminar had been opened, the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, Majid al-Suwaidi, began his speech by thanking them for their welcome to the city, valuing it as a very positive experience. Mr. Al-Suwaidi wished to transmit three main ideas during his speech. Firstly, that the Emirates is a modern, open and moderate country that believes in diversity. Secondly: "that these values shape our culture, traditions, our vision of the world, which is why the Emirates are a global melting pot". Finally, he has highlighted the role of culture and creativity as intrinsic elements in the heart of its past and as an engine of progress in the future.

The Emirate Ambassador's speech continued by offering a vision of the Gulf country as a model for the future, which empowers women, with diversity, innovation and global involvement, values that are fundamental and that will continue to mark the future. "In my country, 80% of the population are expatriates, so it is an international bubble with more than 200 nationalities living together in peace and making us an incubator of tolerance," said Mr. Al-Suwaidi. The ambassador celebrated all the work being done by the city of Santander, "I believe that culture and art are the best and most enriching way to connect two countries", he stressed. Finally, Majid Al-Suwaidi said goodbye wishing that this first meeting would be the first of many more and that it would mark the way for Santander to be more present in the Emirates and the Emirates also in Santander.

The morning continued with the intervention of the Mayor of Santander, Gema Igual, as representative of the Santander authorities. In her speech, the Mayoress ratified the words of the Ambassador referring to the Emirates as an example of diversity, modernity, success and a desire for culture. "The pandemic is not going to prevent us from continuing to do these cultural exchanges and that they continue to be beneficial," said Igual in an allusion to the importance of holding these events in the complex current context. 

The Mayor encouraged those present to use this first day to get to know each other, to create these points of common interest, to detect these opportunities, "there is a lot of enthusiasm, effort, but above all there are opportunities", stressed Igual. The Mayoress of Santander concluded her speech by saying that, despite the difficult pandemic situation we are experiencing, the commitment to make Santander and Cantabria increasingly international is not going to wane.