The president of Melilla, Juan José Imbroda, assured this Wednesday before King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia that the visit to the autonomous city "begins a new Melilla", on a day he described as long-awaited and which, in his opinion, brings "confidence, certainty and hope" for the future of the Spanish city in North Africa.
Imbroda spoke in the Golden Hall of the Assembly Palace, after handing the Keys of the City to the Head of State, and welcomed the monarchs on behalf of the people of Melilla. "I had a dream that has come true today," he said, paraphrasing Martin Luther King.
As he highlighted, thousands of people have welcomed the Kings in the Plaza de España, in what constitutes the first visit of Felipe VI and Letizia to Melilla since the monarch ascended to the throne 12 years ago. The president of Melilla also recalled the visit of the previous monarchs, Juan Carlos and Sofía, on November 6, 2007, a date he defined as unforgettable.
The vindication of Melilla's Spanishness
One of the central themes of the speech was the defense of Melilla's Spanishness. Juan José Imbroda used historical, political and legal arguments to underline the city's connection with Spain and recalled the events of 1497, when Pedro de Estopiñán arrived in Melilla on September 17. "Melilla has been Spain since the dawn of our nation," said the president of the Autonomous City, who also alluded to the population's support for the 1978 Constitution and the references the constitutional text makes to the city.
"We have all the arguments, reasons and historical, political and legal rights to proclaim that Melilla is not from Spain, it is Spain," he affirmed before the Kings. "Here begins Spain, here begins Europe," he added, also alluding to a recent resolution of the European Parliament which, he indicated, reaffirms the Spanishness and Europeanism of the city. Imbroda highlighted the plural character of Melilla and defended the coexistence between the different religious communities as one of its main hallmarks. In this sense, he cited the city's anthem to recall its Muslim, Christian and Jewish roots.
"We want the world to know us for what we are, for what we live daily, almost 90,000 people from Melilla of different religious creeds, where respect, tolerance and solidarity are our daily formula to make Melilla the City of Peace," he stated. The president stressed that the people of Melilla want to continue living "in peace and freedom", with "a deep feeling of belonging to the city and to Spain," an identity that, he said, they carry with pride.
Although he acknowledged that the current situation is far from what was experienced during those days, he considered that several issues remain pending and regretted the absence of responses that, in his opinion, should have been "more forceful and agile." "An exceptional situation, like the one suffered in Ceuta, needs exceptional and not ordinary responses," he defended, while demanding firm action in the internal and external spheres, as well as European support. In that context, he publicly thanked Felipe VI for his position in support of Ceuta and Melilla, as well as his statements in official speeches in defense of both cities. "We have felt very supported," he affirmed, before thanking the monarch for his "high degree of commitment."
More State presence and visit agenda
Juan José Imbroda took advantage of the presence of the Kings to demand greater state involvement in Melilla, both in budgetary and legislative matters and in the area of the State Security Forces and Corps and the Armed Forces. The objective, he explained, is to promote socioeconomic development that allows the city to be on par with the rest of Spain and, at the same time, strengthen its security.
The intervention concluded with a message of gratitude to the monarchs for their visit, which the president considers the starting point of a new stage for the city. "Majesties, today with your visit a new Melilla begins. Thank you for making it possible," he reiterated. "Long live Melilla!, Long live Spain!, Long live the King!" he proclaimed at the end of his speech.
After the institutional acts in the Assembly Palace, the Kings are scheduled to visit the Eduardo Morillas school at 4:15 p.m., accompanied by the president of the Autonomous City. The agenda will conclude at 5:45 p.m. with a reception for representatives of Melilla society at the Melilla Puerto hotel, where Felipe VI will deliver a speech in the Melilla hall.
