Foreign minister, Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo ‘home’ to Javea

SPAIN’S newly appointed Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo was welcomed by Javea Mayor Jose Chulvi, when he made an official visit to the town on Saturday.

During his opening address, the Minister told the gathered crowds that the town ‘is the ideal place to hold high meetings.’

He also mentioned that amongst the many ministerial summits to be organised within the Ibero-American Summit of Cadiz, he may be able to introduce participating ministers to the town so that they will be able to see the potential of the area for themselves, according to El Economista newspaper.

The 67-year-old Minister has owned a second home in Javea for decades and has on several occasions stressed his, ‘special love for a town where you can live and retire throughout the four seasons.’

A lthough the Spanish media identifies Jose Margallo as Prime Minister Rajoy’s new Foreign Minister with Madrid rather than the Valencian region, Mayor Chulvi expressed his joy and pride that Javea has a member of the community that is not only part of the Government of Spain, but also has such an important portfolio in international affairs.

Prior to his government appointment, Minister Margallo served as an MEP in Brussels where for many years; he stridently opposed both the Fortou and Auken reports presented over two years by the Petitions Committee and EU Parliament.

The report represented land-grab grievances and environmental abuse suffered by many property owners within the same region he now expresses his “special love.”

After the reception, Vice President Charles Svoboda of long-term-land-grab-fighters, Abusos Urbanisticos No (AUN) said that the reports are still valid and that whether he agrees or not, the Minister will be familiar with the grievances and it is his hope that he will now represent those having such concerns and work within the new government and with the authorities here to address them.

By Benny Davis