Press conference by the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, with the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN, PEDRO SÁNCHEZ

Good morning, everyone.

First of all, thank you to the media for attending this press conference, and thank you to the director of the World Health Organisation for his example and leadership during these long and intense hours, personally accompanying the entire team deployed on the island of Tenerife.

Before we begin, I would like to express, on behalf of the Government of Spain and, I am convinced, the entire Spanish society, our deepest condolences to the family, colleagues, and loved ones of the Civil Guard officer who died of a heart attack on Sunday night while on duty near the port of Granadilla de Abona. His death fills us with sorrow and his service honours us.

As you know, on 5 May our country, Spain, received a call for help. It came from a small ship in Atlantic waters, but it also came from the World Health Organisation, the EU and more than 23 governments around the world, asking us to help repatriate a group of people threatened by an outbreak of hantavirus.

Some at that time advised us to ignore that call. A few demanded it of us, and others, who usually have opinions about everything, kept a self-serving silence and stood aside, as if there were not also Spanish compatriots travelling on that ship.

In those days, we heard many public representatives ask why the African country of Cape Verde did not host the operation, why our country had to, why Spain had to host it. But it was clear to us that this was not the question, that the right question was something else entirely. And that is, why are we not going to protect our compatriots who were on that cruise ship? And why shouldn't we help those in need if it is within our power to do so? This world does not need more selfishness or more fear. What it needs are countries that show solidarity and are willing to step up.

And so, on the afternoon of 5 May, we officially communicated to the World Health Organisation that Spain would comply, as we have always done, and that Spain would therefore welcome the Hondius. And that it would do so on the coast of Tenerife, which, according to the experts of the same organisation, was the first suitable port that the ship would encounter on its route.

And we did so for three reasons, which I would like to share with all Spaniards who are following this press conference.

First, because, as we have said from the beginning of this emergency, it was our legal responsibility, as stated in article 44 of the International Health Regulations, to which Spain is a signatory.

Second, because it is our moral obligation to 150 families of tourists and workers who were going through the worst time of their lives, also Spanish citizens.

And finally, because we wanted to show the world that our country, that Spain, is a society committed to global health, to international law and to multilateralism. That we are a country that receives help from others when it needs it, but also helps others when it can and when it is necessary.

You see, this summer many of our sons and daughters, many Spanish citizens, an estimated 6 million Spaniards, will be travelling abroad. And when they do, they will know that their safety and health will be protected by international law, but also by the legitimacy that comes from having applied it when others were seeking help on our shores.

Moments after accepting the WHO's request, the Government of Spain got down to work applying the four guiding principles that we have always developed in previous emergencies.

Firstly, scientific rigour. Therefore, technical advice.

Secondly, absolute transparency in providing information to our citizens and the media.

Thirdly, institutional coordination.

And finally, international cooperation.

We informed the public. We activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism. We started working with the World Health Organisation and also with the European Commission, with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, with the Canary Islands authorities and with the 23 countries with nationals on board the cruise ship to design and also to deploy the reception, care and repatriation operation.

More than 120 people of different nationalities have been repatriated via ten special flights. The operation concluded without incident.

And of course, we will not let our guard down. We will continue to closely monitor the condition of the passengers currently hospitalised in the Gómez Ulla hospital. And consequently the global emergency situation as well.

What we can say, however, is that at this stage the operation has been a success, thanks to the excellent work of the 400 professionals who participated. All of them led by the relevant ministers. The Minister for Health, Mónica García. The Minister for Home Affairs, Fernando Grande-Marlaska. The Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres. Also the Minister for Defence, Margarita Robles. I would like to thank all of them and their teams for their dedication and excellent work.

I would also like to thank the people of the Canary Islands for their solidarity, because throughout these days they have shown patience, generosity and a civic responsibility that has been applauded and recognised by many international leaders, including the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Gutérres, and also Pope Leo XIV himself.

I believe that, in times like these, even more so, we should feel proud to be Spanish, because Spain delivers, it always delivers. First and foremost, for its own people, whom we care for, but also for the rest of the world whom we assist.

Some will say that the Hondius episode will soon be forgotten, but I disagree. I think it will be remembered for years to come. And it will be because it is yet another reality of who we are, of who Spain is, the country we aspire to be. A country committed to international law, peace and an end to war.

A society that knows that the challenges facing humanity, such as global health crises, are not bound by borders and therefore require international cooperation and organisations such as the World Health Organisation that are strong and equipped with the necessary resources to be able to carry out their work effectively.

It is therefore a source of pride to be Spanish, from a Spain which, by the way, says loud and clear that a better world is possible, as long as we are willing to do our bit to build it.

We therefore need more science and more awareness. And that is the example Spain has set for the world.

So thank you very much.

And before we move on to questions from the media, I'd like to give the floor to Dr. Tedros to acknowledge his leadership, as I did at the beginning of this press conference, and to hand it over to him.

Q.- [Sandra Gallardo, Radio Nacional de España] Good morning, president. Good morning, Dr Tedros. Some questions on behalf of the Spanish press, in Spanish if I may. [Good morning, Dr. Tedros. A few questions on behalf of the Spanish press, in Spanish, if I may].

Mr. President, you have described this operation as successful once it was completed. I would like to know if you felt there could have been more cooperation from the Canary Islands Government. Do you consider President Clavijo to have been disloyal by raising objections from the outset?

And, Dr Tedros, President Sanchez, what did you think? Out of curiosity, what did you think when you heard the Canary Islands President mention swimming mice as an argument?

And, Mr. President, if I may ask you about another matter, President Ayuso, the President of the Community of Madrid, is accusing your government of putting her in extreme danger during her trip to Mexico.

Thank you.

President.-: Thank you for your questions.

Of course, we are not going to engage in any kind of institutional controversy, but I will focus on two things I said in the introduction to this press conference.

Firstly, the words of Pope Leo XIV, expressing his recognition and admiration for a society, the society of the Canary Islands, which has set an example of solidarity and empathy.

And secondly, also to the whole of Spanish society, which has witnessed this entire operation with absolute calm and absolute confidence in the operational deployment, in the healthcare professionals and in the capacity of our country, which is one of the few countries in the world that in a matter of hours is able to deploy an operation to guarantee an exemplary and effective response to an emergency or global health crisis such as we have experienced or are experiencing in relation to the hantavirus.

Secondly, regarding the President of the Community of Madrid. I also don't want to engage in polemics with someone who is adept at creating problems and confrontation, not only in our country, but, as we have seen in recent days, also abroad, in this case in Mexico.

Q.- [Ignacio Aguado, Telecinco] Good morning. Thank you very much.

Many thanks to Dr Tedros.

And, to President Sánchez, to tie in with the answers you gave to my colleague Sandra, I am left wondering if you believe it is necessary, after the conversation you had last Thursday with the Canary Islands president, President Clavijo, if you believe it is necessary to speak with him again to exchange views, given that he continues to insist that his Government was right to say that the risks had to be reduced even further.

On other current national issues, I'd like to get your opinion, President Sánchez, on an image we saw yesterday during the Barça celebration, on the Barça parade: we saw player Lamine Yamal waving a Palestinian flag. Lamine Yamal, as we all know, is a very influential figure with a huge following, and I'd like to know your opinion on this gesture by the Barça player.

And finally, if I may. The mask case has been heard and is now awaiting judgment. I'd like to know how you followed the proceedings of that trial. And a reflection on the words of the anti-corruption prosecutor who said that corruption was eating away at democracy. These are words that the anti-corruption prosecutor uttered during the trial of one of his former ministers. I'd like to know your thoughts on this.

And thank you both very much.

President: Well, thank you very much, Iñaki, for your questions.

With regard to the first question, we are delighted to continue speaking and conversing with such an important institution as the Government of the Canary Islands, both for the Canary Islands community as a whole and, of course, for Spanish society as a whole.

But I do want to emphasise again the explicit recognition that none other than the Pope has given to the solidarity and empathy of the people of the Canary Islands, and we in the Government of Spain obviously join in that recognition and gratitude. And I would like to remind Spanish society as a whole that the Government of Spain has simply followed its crisis management protocol, which we have also implemented throughout these years, during which we have had to confront countless crises of all kinds.

Firstly, scientific rigour and therefore technical advice. All our decisions have been based on this scientific rigour and technical advice. I would also like to acknowledge the professionalism and quality of all of them.

Secondly, thanks in part to the media, absolute transparency in the information provided has been ensured, making it known to the public as soon as it was managed and known by the Government of Spain. Therefore, absolute transparency.

Thirdly, institutional loyalty and, finally, the international cooperation that we have achieved through the World Health Organisation, but also with more than twenty countries and, logically, also with the Community institutions. I am also grateful for your recognition, which was made explicit yesterday by both the president of the European Commission and the president of the Council.

On the question of Palestine, Spain has recognised the State of Palestine. From the very first moment, Spain condemned the Hamas attacks and, immediately afterward, condemned the genocide being perpetrated by the Israeli authorities in the Gaza Strip. And, of course, also the illegal occupation that is taking place through settlements in the West Bank.

And I believe, and I have argued on many occasions, that this war makes the Middle East much more insecure, and Israeli society itself much more insecure. And that, therefore, it is time to comply with international law to end the war and to establish a political framework for peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine. And that involves not only access to humanitarian aid, but also ending impunity and recognising a State of Palestine, just as Spain has recognised the existence of the State of Israel. Palestine, too, has every right to exist, as we have also argued when talking about the State of Israel.

And finally, regarding the last point. I have said it many times, this is a time for justice, and the government has cooperated with the State law enforcement forces and agencies and the Justice system.

Q.- [Sehnan Bolelli, Anadolu Agency] Hello, good morning, two questions for President Sánchez.

Not so long ago nobody knew about hantavirus, now the whole of Europe knows about it. If, then, in the coming weeks, there are more cases of hantavirus, who will be held politically responsible after the ship has arrived in Spain? I don't know what your opinion is on this issue.

The second, on Palestine. I don't know if you have spoken among yourselves recently, because the Gaza Strip has been subjected to intense and destructive attacks by Israel. The health situation has reached a critical point. I don't know if the World Health Organisation and also the Government of Spain want to take any further steps on this health issue in Palestine.

Thank you.

President - Thank you. If you will allow me, President, I'll speak now and you can wrap up the press conference.

I believe that the Director-General of the WHO was clear in his presentation. The political responsibility for the travellers now lies with the governments of each of those countries.

Therefore, what we are doing, at least what I can tell you from Spain, is monitoring the condition of the cruise ship passengers, who are currently at the Gómez Ulla Military Hospital in Madrid.

You know that the protocols, the protocol we have established in Spain, require two PCR tests, one of which has just been done, and, if I recall correctly, Minister, the next one will be in 7 or 8 days. Based on those results, the specialists will advise us on exactly what measures we need to take from Public Health to guarantee their own health and, of course, the health of Spanish society as a whole.

Therefore, as Dr Tedros said earlier, this crisis is not over and the Government of Spain continues to follow it very closely and to monitor each and every passenger, including, of course, the asymptomatic ones.

And on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, we have said three things. The first is that full access to humanitarian aid must be guaranteed for the Gazan population, which unfortunately is not guaranteed today.

Secondly, that this ceasefire must be respected and that the parties must sit down to find a political solution that inevitably involves, in the medium term, the recognition of the State of Palestine in peaceful coexistence with the State of Israel.

(Transcript edited by the State Secretariat for Communication)