Prince of Asturias Awards 1981–2014. Speeches

7 P rince of A sturias A wards 1981-2014. S peeches Speech XXIV Convinced that a less threatened, more tolerant and fairer world is possible, and that life is a magnificent gift and a unique opportunity to do good, I return to this beloved Asturias and this historic city of Oviedo, profoundly grateful to those who make these hours of hope possible. Events as charged with sincerity, symbolism and enthusiasm as today’s contribute to moving us closer to this world we ever aspire to. This year’s ceremony takes on a new, touching meaning for me, as my wife, the Princess of Asturias accompanies me for the first time. We joined hands in matrimony five months ago today; a step we both desired towards building a home, forming a family and sharing the precious wish to serve Spain wholeheartedly, with loyalty towards our history and commitment towards the future of our society. You will understand, therefore, how words fail me today, how I am moved as I express these ideas, and as I also remember that the Princess of Asturias deeply loves this land, where she was born and where she lived the decisive, unforgettable years together with her family and friends. However, our happiness, which we would also wish for everyone, does not mean that we forget the tribulations that life in society confronts us with, often as a result of the fanatical, inhuman actions of groups lacking all moral order, creating hate and malice in its purest form, threatening life in peace and the very existence of millions of people on every continent. This is how terrorism in all its ramifications, guises and links becomes one of the greatest threats to our present and future. Of all the painful memories, none is so etched in our minds as the horrific terrorist attack in Madrid, last March 11th, which stained the peaceful coexistence of Spaniards with blood in such a deadly and brutal way, and sparked an immense, heart-rending movement of solidarity both within Spain and beyond. Today, we do not want to forget the long list of victims that terrorism leads to throughout the world, and would make a special mention of so many fellow Spaniards who have suffered and continue to suffer its consequences. To confront these terrorist threats, we can rely on the firm commitment to fight with the efficacy provided by the tools of democracy and the strength of our convictions, which include the protection and defence of the values, patrimony and ideals that define us as a free and democratic society. This is all based upon the solidarity and loyal support that every victim of intolerance deserves and the most profound gratitude towards those who are brave enough to risk their lives to save those of others. Ladies and Gentlemen, It will soon be twenty-five years since the launch of this marvellous project of the Awards that bear my name. Please allow me to again proclaim my faith in this project and to acknowledge and thank all those who ensure —year after year— that we come together at this autumn meeting in Asturias with our greatest legacy for their painstaking efforts. Our Laureates, who are already part of this legacy, accompany us on stage. They receive their Award in their own right or as representatives of different organizations, and all of them are the symbol of our greatest aspirations and desires, of our rejection of violence and oblivion, of our need to assert our confidence in freedom and our ability to defeat despair and fear, as well as of our will to extol unstinting work, creativity and our profound desire for concord. Claudio Magris, the Italian writer and lecturer, one of the most important of contemporary Germanists, has been granted the Award for Literature. The creations of his towering intellect —the fruits of his immense cultural knowledge— encompass the essay, the novel and the travelogue, “This is how terrorism in all its ramifications, guises and links becomes one of the greatest threats to our present and future.” Watch video