Prince of Asturias Awards 1981–2014. Speeches

12 O viedo | C ampoamor T heatre | times bathed in the light of our “law of laws” 1 . To the world at large, it has regained its status as a great nation whose history is essential to an understanding of the history of mankind. For these reasons, on what is such an important day for me, I wish to spare a thought, and express my deep gratitude, to those who made our Carta Magna a reality, to those who applied and implemented it with such faith and sacrifice; to those who inherited a society torn apart by war and then had the nobility of spirit and the heroic generosity needed to turn the Spains that chilled the heart of the great poet into the democratic Spain that we live in. They all contributed intelligently and generously to the precious, noble task of reconciliation. With the same emotions, I also recall the victims of intolerance and terrorism, who gave their lives defending their freedom and the freedom of all. This Foundation was born of this spirit of concord, and with it, the marvellous adventure of its Awards. It is an adventure that we renew each year, one that is all the more precious for having its origins in Asturias, these lands of mountain peaks that tower as loftily as the flight of the spirit of Asturias. Thank you. 1 The Spanish Constitution. “Where love of culture dwells, the chains of ignorance, darkness and fear are forever broken.” 24 th O ctober 2003