Politicians set for Spanish state funeral
European leaders going to tomorrow’s state funeral for victims of the Madrid train bombings will have their first opportunity to meet face-to-face the newly-elected Socialists, and perhaps get a glimmer of Spain’s future foreign policy.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair was to arrive tonight and dine with outgoing Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar before meeting Prime Minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero tomorrow ahead of the Mass at Almudena cathedral.
Also attending are French President Jacques Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller and US Secretary of State Colin Powell among dozens of dignitaries.
Zapatero’s intention to withdraw Spain’s 1,300 peacekeeping troops from Iraq by June 30, unless the United Nations takes over the occupation, is almost certain to feature in talks. His Socialist party opposed last year’s US-led invasion, as did an overwhelming majority of Spaniards.
“I think that’s fairly reasonable speculation” that Blair would bring Iraq up, British embassy spokesman Jon Davies said. Other pressing issues include the European Union draft constitution, currently blocked and EU efforts to co-ordinate anti-terrorism policy.
The dozens of foreign dignitaries attending the funeral Mass for the 190 passengers and bystanders killed in the March 11 train bombings, include the presidents of Portugal, Jorge Sampaio Finland, Tarja Halonen and Italy, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.
Also scheduled to attend are the Prince of Wales, Prince Albert of Monaco, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway.
Apart from the expression of European solidarity, there’s not much time for heavy politicking. The schedule from the Socialist party shows Miller arriving to see Zapatero in his parliament office an hour after Mr Blair.
After the Mass, Chirac gets in briefly before Powell, who arrives just 25 minutes later. Then Schroeder, and finally Sampaio at the residence of Portugal’s ambassador to Spain.
Powell was scheduled to meet Aznar at the prime minister’s Moncloa residence in the morning.
The state funeral at Almudena cathedral in Madrid near the royal palace will be the first for any non-royal since the 1975 death of former long-time dictator General Francisco Franco.
Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco.
Families and friends of the victims were to fill the centre of the cathedral, flanked by Spain’s royal family and top Spanish political leaders.
