The Minister of Culture and Sports of the Junta de Andalucía, Patricia del Pozo, the President of the Congress of Deputies, Francina Armengol, and the President of the Senate, Pedro Rollán, have led the planting of twenty olive trees in the Alhambra in Granada with the aim of creating a Garden of Peace. Representatives from the countries participating in the Forum on the Future of the Mediterranean, to be held in the city of Granada as part of the Spanish Presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean, were also present.
Del Pozo emphasized the importance of starting this event with «an act as simple as it is symbolic: the planting of twenty olive trees native to each of the regions represented in this forum, forming a Garden of Peace, to foster dialogue and understanding among peoples».
The Minister of Culture pointed to the palatial complex of the Alhambra and the Generalife as «a world heritage site and a synthesis of different cultures and civilizations,» as the most suitable place to carry out this initiative in pursuit of stability and peace in the Mediterranean. Del Pozo recalled that Andalusia, «a land whose white and green flag symbolizes peace and hope,» is committed to «keeping alive the flame of concord among peoples.»
During the sessions of the Forum on the Future of the Mediterranean, officially inaugurated tomorrow by King Felipe VI, current issues in the Mediterranean region such as migratory movements, climate change, youth employment, and gender equality will be discussed.
Donated by the University of Córdoba, a scientific and academic institution responsible for the World Olive Germplasm Bank, the twenty young varieties of this tree have been planted by the representatives of the participating countries in this international meeting in planters in the courtyard of the Palace of Charles V. Subsequently, they will be transferred to the nurseries of the Alhambra and Generalife, where they will grow to be planted on the slopes of the Alhambra in the near future, giving final shape to this Garden of Peace.