Stars and Stripes flies again on National Day 04/10/2006 00:00

4 October 2006

MADRID — For the first time in three years, the Stars and Stripes is to fly again at Spain's National Day celebrations next week.

The ministry of defence has invited the US to attend the military celebrations on 12 October.

It marks a thawing relationship between Spain and the US, after they reached their lowest point following the withdrawal of Spanish troops from Iraq.

The last time the US flag flew in 2003, the then leader of the opposition, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero remained in his seat as US troops marched by.

He was protesting at the US led invasion of Iraq, which Spain supported at the time.

The gesture irritated the US at the time, though they refused to condemn it publicly.

The year after, the then US ambassador George Argyros, went hunting instead of attending the parade, as a way of showing his disapproval.

The present ambassador, Eduardo Aguirre, is to attend the display this year.

The defence minister, José Antonio Alonso, is expected to go to Washington in October for a UN conference about Afghanistan.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news