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5 July 2004
MADRID — The king and queen of Spain met Monday with Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo, the first leader from that Andean nation to visit Spain in the last 60 years.
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia greeted Toledo and his wife, Eliane Karp, outside the El Pardo Palace, where the Peruvian couple will stay during their three-day visit to Spain.
Following the playing of the Peruvian and Spanish national anthems and a 21-gun salute, Juan Carlos and Toledo reviewed Spain’s Royal Guard and watched a military parade that included the various branches of the Royal Guard.
Other high-ranking guests in attendance included Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Congress of Deputies Speaker Manuel Marin and Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos.
Toledo will be the guest at Monday night at a gala dinner with the Spanish monarchs at the Royal Palace.
The Peruvian president is to meet Zapatero on Tuesday.
Toledo is the first Latin American leader to visit Spain following the win by the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) in the March 14 elections, which put Zapatero in office.
To mark Toledo’s visit to Spain, both countries are expected to sign a new economic cooperation accord and an agreement on foreign affairs and immigration.
The foreign ministers of both countries will also hold several meetings to discuss bilateral relations.
[Copyright EFE with Expatica]
Subject: Spanish news