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that have been bestowed with the Prince of Asturias Award for Concord, also brings hope for a
better world, a more just world and, above all, a less sorrowful world.
A proverb of Sepharad —the Spain that chose to be a scenario for harmonious coexistence
betweenArabs, Jews andChristians—, referring to austerity and prudence, tells us that the strongest
flower is born, grows and lives in the shade. Thus, the olive tree of peace has been discreetly sown
by these two exceptional men to whom we pay tribute today by presenting them with the Prince
of Asturias Award for International Cooperation. These are the President of the Palestine National
Authority, Yaser Arafat, and the Prime Minister of Israel, Isaac Rabin, two historic figures that
have been courageous enough to traverse the desert of war in order to arrive at the promised land
of peace.
I believe in the sun, although it might not shine.
I believe in love, although I might not feel it.
I believe in God, although I might not see Him.
With the same degree of hope and faith that these luminous lines were written on a wall of
the Warsaw ghetto in tragic moments for the Jewish people, we make a call so that the peace
of the brave, signed by President Arafat and Prime Minister Isaac Rabin, may succeed. The first
step towards this initiative before the international community
was taken in our country, in 1991, during the International
Conference for Peace in the Middle East, held in Madrid. A
decisive and revolutionary step —in the words of His Majesty
The King during his address to the Parliament of Israel—, since
for the first time the language of confrontation was dispensed
with and a move towards the negotiated solution of problems
was adopted.
President, Prime Minister, we are aware of the enormous difficulties facing the recently initiated
peace process, for while bidding a definite farewell to arms and conquering harmony, it is urgent to
activate cooperation and aid in a firm commitment together the International Community for the
material reconstruction of the entire territory of Palestine, in order that all the men and women
living in the Middle East may witness a transformation of their faith and their hopes; so that they
may have trust in the process of peace and cooperation as the best way to serve their desires for
prosperity and progress.
It is therefore our wish, from the bottom of our heart, that in all the homes of your countries,
so dearly beloved by the people of Spain, this most beautiful prayer becomes a reality “... and will
wipe all tears from their eyes, for there will be death nor tears no longer, nor cries, nor toil, for the
old world is past.”
Shalom. Salam. Peace.
Thank you very much.
“Of all of them it may be always said,
as in that moving line of verse, that
their heart has not beaten in vain.”
24
th
N
ovember
1994
