publish time

15/07/2024

author name Arab Times

publish time

15/07/2024

KUWAIT CITY, July 15: The Arab Times had the distinct honor of speaking with His Excellency Miguel Moro Aguilar the outgoing Spanish Ambassador to the State of Kuwait. Over the past four years, His Excellency has played a pivotal role in strengthening the bilateral relations between Spain and Kuwait, fostering economic, cultural, educational, social and diplomatic ties.

His Excellency Miguel Moro Aguilar the outgoing Spanish Ambassador to the State of Kuwait.



Under his esteemed leadership, the Spanish Embassy has seen numerous achievements and successful initiatives that have significantly contributed to the mutual growth and understanding between Kuwait and Spain. As he prepares to embark on his new appointment in Spain, we reflect on his remarkable tenure here in Kuwait and the lasting impact of his dedicated service.

Arab Times: Your Excellency, can you highlight some of the key accomplishments or milestones during your tenure as the Spanish Ambassador to Kuwait?

Ambassador: I have been here for nearly four years, arriving in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was definitely not the ideal time to start my journey as an ambassador, but I came with the enthusiasm and energy of a first-time ambassador. Despite the constraints of the pandemic and other challenges, I believe the embassy made significant breakthroughs in bilateral relations.

The embassy organized visits at various political levels between Kuwait and Spain, involving the foreign ministries of both countries in April and May, as well as in November 2021.

We actively participated in political consultations with the Kuwaiti Assistant Minister for European Affairs and the Spanish counterpart in Madrid on three occasions. Additionally, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited Madrid for bilateral consultations.

For the first time, we held a joint committee meeting on trade and commerce on November 2022. Although an agreement existed, it had never been implemented until then.

We continued to strengthen relations by signing agreements and significantly improving tourism ties. We worked on establishing direct flight connections between Kuwait and Madrid, as well as Barcelona, in addition to the Kuwait-Malaga direct flight introduced a year before my posting in Kuwait.

I can proudly say that the relations between Kuwait and Spain have reached new heights in politics, tourism, economy, culture, health, and even sports. We also embarked on scientific collaborations between both countries, particularly with KFAS and KISR in Kuwait. Despite the constraints, we have managed to address many issues and enhance the image of both countries.

I have participated in festivals in Marbella organized by Kuwaiti citizens and, along with my Kuwaiti counterpart in Spain to promote the image of Kuwait. I also attended the launch of the direct flight to Madrid in September 2022 at the Kuwaiti embassy in Madrid, an enthusiastic event that was attended by over 150 guests.

I have always supported events in Kuwait with a Spanish connection, including soccer, tennis, paddle, and boxing. I have fully played my part in anything that benefited both Spain and Kuwait.

AT: What do you consider to be the most significant challenges you faced during your time in Kuwait, and how did you address them?

Ambassador: As I mentioned earlier when I arrived, COVID-19 had brought the world to a virtual standstill. Like many people, I faced significant challenges because the pandemic not only affected Spain and Kuwait but the entire humanity.

Despite taking all necessary precautions, such as wearing a mask and maintaining social distance, I was infected by the virus twice. Nevertheless, I had to carry on with my duties and could not afford to wait for two years for the pandemic to subside. This was, I believe, the most challenging part of my tenure in Kuwait.

Then the political constraints and certain situations here also made it difficult to push some projects forward, either due to a lack of interlocutors or changes in personnel.

However, I had the unwavering support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and civil servants in the Kuwaiti government, such as the assistant ministers, including Mr. Marafi in charge of European Affairs or of those in the areas of protocol and international organizations.

Their assistance and collaboration were invaluable. Additionally, some ministers, like the Minister of Information, were very supportive, as were the people at the NCCAL and the Kuwait Library on the cultural, field.

Despite the obstacles posed by COVID-19, we managed to organize and strengthen the relations between our two countries.

In hindsight, when I leave Kuwait, I will carry with me many happy memories. I will leave with a clear conscience, knowing that I have done my best to take bilateral relations between Kuwait and Spain to another level.

AT: What initiatives or strategies did you implement to promote cultural, economic, or political ties between Spain and Kuwait?

Ambassador: First of all, I believe that culture is too important to neglect because it is the heartbeat of nations, bringing out the best from deep within.

Regarding Spain and the Arab world, there are long-standing relations for many reasons, primarily due to the historical presence of Arabs, Arab culture, and language in Spain.

For centuries, the Iberian Peninsula has contributed depth and facilitated people-to-people and cultural contacts with the Arab peoples. Beyond these historic roots, Kuwaitis, in particular, are very fond of certain areas in Spain, where they spend their summers and appreciate many aspects of our culture.

Given the circumstances, our strategy and goal focused on fostering more connections between the people of Spain and Kuwait. We organized several cultural events and activities to achieve this goal throughout the years.

For instance, we brought two different flamenco groups to Kuwait, featuring beautiful nights filled with the culture and essence of Andalusia, the most recent by the ‘Anabel Veloso’ flamenco band. They performed on the stage of Abdul Hussein Abdul Reda under the aegis of the NCCAL, strengthening cultural ties between the two countries and societies.

The embassy also worked an eclectic program featuring the music of Spain and its influence on the music of the Americas, such as the guitar and the violin duo Orbón and Fernández. This music, born from the mixture of two worlds and cultures, created an indelible memory and sensation. Recently we had an excellent pianist, Eduardo Fernández, who offered a magnificent performance here in Kuwait and also in Bahrain.

In collaboration with the National Council for Culture Arts and Letters, the Spanish Embassy orchestrated a musical evening at the Kuwait National Library in May. This event served as a platform for cultural convergence, bringing people together through the universal language of music, fostering understanding and unity among people.

These cultural activities, along with conferences and lectures, were significant milestones. About three years ago, we emphasized various cultural initiatives, including highlighting the First Voyage of Circumnavigation by Fernão de Magalhães and Juan Sebastián Elcano (1519-1522) at the National Library, an event successfully organized with the participation of experts from Kuwait University.

In addition to these efforts, we organized beautiful events to promote Marbella. A delegation led by the Mayor of Marbella, Her Excellency Mrs. Angeles Muñoz, and the Princess of Orleans, along with top representatives from well-known hotels in Marbella, visited Kuwait. This joyful event promoted luxurious tourism dedicated to the beautiful town of Marbella in southern Spain, which is highly appreciated by our Kuwaiti friends.

A special representation from local tourism agents and Kuwaiti friends, including some members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had the opportunity to exchange views with the Spanish delegation in a cordial atmosphere, showcasing the steadily close links between both nations.

We also worked on promoting the Spanish language, literature, and culture abroad. Although we don't have an institute in Kuwait dedicated to this purpose, the Spanish language is promoted through private academies and various public and private university departments. We collaborated with the French Institute to organize accredited exams, initially held at the embassy premises. However, due to the growing number of enthusiasts, we had to move these exams to other venues due to space constraints.

Spanish is widely spoken, second only to English globally. It is the official language or one of the official languages of 20 countries in Europe, and Central, South, and North America, with more than 540 million native speakers. This makes it one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, excluding languages spoken within individual nations, such as Chinese.

Language is a powerful tool, deserving recognition in our world, and many Kuwaitis have shown interest in learning Spanish.

On the education front, Spain has doubled the number of accredited universities for the benefit of Kuwaitis who wish to study in Spain. Consequently, Spanish culture has also seen improvement on a global level.

I think we've worked hard over these years to broaden the perception of Spain, and we've succeeded. People are more aware of Spain now. This was one of the main points my team and I insisted on to promote tourism in a more balanced way in Kuwait.

AT: What do you see as the most pressing issues in the region, and how has Spain contributed to addressing them during your tenure in Kuwait?

Ambassador: The international situation is currently quite grim. We are enduring a terrible war in Ukraine, fought on European soil, posing a significant challenge for all European nations at the international level.

Additionally, the devastating war in Gaza has shocked everyone in the region, including us in Spain. These two conflicts and the emerging tensions at the international level have severely affected world peace.

Spain has always voiced its constructive opinion in order to find diplomatic solutions and moderate tensions in Ukraine, Gaza, and other conflict areas. The region is likely to remain turbulent for the foreseeable future.

Conflicts cannot be solved only by force, as some might believe. Spain has worked closely with like-minded nations such as Kuwait and close partners like Egypt and Jordan to find solutions to these conflicts. We are particularly focused on resolving the conflict between Israel and Palestine by recognizing the right of Palestinians to an independent state.

Recently, the Prime Minister of Spain announced the recognition of an independent Palestinian state, marking an important milestone for Spain. We work along with our partners in the European Union in order to try and give an impulse to the search for a solution to this long festering conflict. We need to make vital moves in this direction to preserve the two-state solution, which still remains the only viable solution to the conflict that has devastated Palestine for so long and put the region to the test.

AT: Can you share a particularly memorable moment or experience from your diplomatic service in Kuwait?

Ambassador: I will take many beautiful memories of Kuwait with me. Frankly speaking, it is difficult to sum them all up due to the intense nature of the work over the past few months.

However, I believe that when I am more relaxed back in Spain, these memories will resurface as I reflect on my achievements. I have had four intense, important, and interesting years, filled with various situations and contacts with Kuwaitis at all levels, particularly those I met during my visits to Diwaniyas.

One beautiful moment was when His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Spain's King Felipe VI and his accompanying delegation during their trip to Kuwait to offer condolences over the demise of the late Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

I accompanied His Majesty the King from Spain to Kuwait, and this was a very significant contact between the King and His Highness the Amir.

Another memorable event was during the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Bahrain ink my capacity of Ambassador to that Kingdom. I was the only Ambassador among a restricted audience which took place in the context of that visit, comprising Kuwaiti and Bahraini dignitaries. This was a very special moment because the Pope came with a message of universal peace, particularly to Bahrain and the Middle East.

I was also in Spain whenever Dr. Ahmed Al-Sabah visited, and in 2021, His Majesty the King had a long meeting with Dr. Ahmed. They had very fruitful and positive discussions about bilateral ties, regional affairs, and many vital issues. The opening of the flights to Spain was undoubtedly an other milestone.

AT: How do you assess the current socio-political landscape in Kuwait, and what role do you see for Spain in supporting its development?

Ambassador: Internationally, the situation is complex, and some semblance of international order has been put to the test. International law has been flouted. It is crucial for all countries to believe in themselves, to preserve and protect peace, respect states and their sovereignties, and find solutions based on the United Nations charter for peaceful coexistence rather than resorting to war. Unfortunately, we see disturbing scenarios unfolding.

As I mentioned before, Spain is a voice for moderation and a peace mediator, seeking to find solutions to conflicts in a peaceful manner. We collaborate with Kuwait in this arena because the viewpoints of the Kuwaiti authorities align with ours.

Domestically, we see changes in Kuwait, and I sincerely hope that Kuwait will find the best path forward. Under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir, the Crown Prince, and the Prime Minister, Kuwait will hopefully be able to bounce back, achieve social justice, provide the best opportunities for its citizens, and take steps in the right direction for the nation's betterment.

I sincerely hope that the relations between Kuwait and Spain will continue to flourish in the near future.

AT: Looking back on your term, what do you hope will be your lasting legacy as the Spanish Ambassador to Kuwait?

Ambassador: I was very happy to be in Kuwait these past years. I think Kuwait is a beautiful country, mainly because the people are very welcoming. My colleagues and I know that in other countries, we often cannot communicate as easily with the local people.

Kuwaitis and residents are very interesting, and I was truly able to form beautiful friendships. Spain is a very close friend of Kuwait, and I am sure that in the future, we will continue to strengthen our relations, which are now about 62 years old. Personally, Kuwait will always remain in my heart as a very important part of my professional and personal life.

Thank you for covering all the embassy events. The Arab Times has been very supportive and is very important to the Spanish Embassy and the Kuwaiti people. It is one of the leading newspapers in the country. Congratulations on that, and thank you for this last interview in my last days in the country.

AT: What advice would you give to your successor in terms of navigating the diplomatic landscape and fostering relations between Spain and Kuwait?

Ambassador: The new ambassador will be in Kuwait very soon. He is a distinguished and highly experienced career diplomat, and I am confident he will do a wonderful job. He is well-versed in consular and diplomatic matters in general and is already familiar with the region, having served as the deputy head of mission in Saudi Arabia. I wish him all the best.

By Paulo Francisco X. Fernandes
Arab Times/Al-Seyassah Staff