An official Palestinian movement in Barcelona to strengthen partnerships and consolidate the national presence

Barcelona - Ofoq News - The Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Kingdom of Spain, Dr. Fadi Al-Husseini made an official visit to Barcelona, ​​the capital of the Catalonia region, which included political, governmental, parliamentary, municipal, academic and economic meetings, within the framework of strengthening Palestinian-Spanish relations, expanding horizons of cooperation and following up on the issues of the Palestinian community.

The Ambassador held four separate meetings with Mr. Josep Rol, President of the Parliament of Catalonia, Mr. Carlos Prieto, Representative of the Spanish Government, Mr. Ferran Santos, President of the Socialist Group in Parliament, and representatives of parliamentary groups. He was accompanied in these meetings by Dr. Amina Shoman, head of the Palestinian House and head of the Palestinian community in Tarragona. The ambassador expressed his appreciation for the Spanish and Catalan positions in support of Palestine, reviewing political and field developments, and discussing community issues and ways of cooperation to address them.

Al-Husseini also met with the Mayor of Barcelona, ​​Mr. Jaume Colboni, in the presence of Dr. Ahmed Maarouf, member of the Palestinian National and Central Councils and Secretary of the Fatah Movement in Spain, and Mrs. Natalia Abu Sharar, President of the Palestinian Community in Barcelona. The ambassador thanked the municipality for its positions in support of Palestine, including the “Palestine, Area No. 11” initiative, which reflects the city’s solidarity with its various components with Palestine. The meeting discussed the latest developments in the Palestinian situation and the needs of the community, in addition to proposals for municipal cooperation and addressing the challenges facing its people.

He also met with Mr. Jaume Deutsch, Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Catalan Regional Government, where the two sides discussed developments in Gaza and the West Bank, the conditions of Palestinians residing in the region, and prospects for joint cooperation.

In the economic field, the ambassador met with the President of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Josep Santacro, to discuss opportunities for trade and investment cooperation and the development of joint projects, and the two sides agreed to hold subsequent meetings to develop a practical action plan to enhance economic cooperation. On the academic level, the Ambassador met with the Dean of the Pompeu Fabra University, Ms. Laia de Nadal, her Vice President, the President of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, ​​Mr. Javier Lafuente Sancho, and its Secretary General, Ms. Esther Zapater, with the participation of Dr. Amina Shoman, with the Vice President of the Polytechnic University of Barcelona, ​​Mr. Andreas Somper, with the participation of Dr. Ahmed Maarouf. The meetings focused on the conditions of Palestinian students, enhancing cooperation between Spanish and Palestinian universities, and developing joint projects in higher education and scientific research.

The Ambassador also participated in the official launch of the “University of Barcelona-Ferrer Foundation Chair for Palestine Studies,” the first of its kind in Spain and Europe, dedicated to the study of Palestinian history, culture, and society. In his concluding speech on this occasion, Dr. emphasized: Al-Husseini said that education is an essential pillar for the renaissance of nations and building their future, and an essential axis in the process of building the Palestinian state, strengthening its institutions and preserving its national identity. At another cultural station, the ambassador presented a book about Palestine and its cities to the Palestine Library, as a contribution from the embassy in supporting this project, which he described as “a cry of conscience in the era of genocide,” expressing his appreciation to all those responsible for it.

Ambassador Al-Husseini is scheduled to conclude his visit to Barcelona with a meeting with members of the Palestinian community, and another meeting with the wounded Palestinians and their families residing in the city.