“With the years that have passed since World War II, the important thing is that, with actions such as this exhibition and others that we will carry out, the new generations know the lives of those men and women who left their lives so that we can enjoy freedom and democracy now,” said the minister, who believes that “it is essential to walk together in a coexistence in which the word is the only weapon to wield.” During the morning, the head of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory met with Patricia Mirallés, Secretary of State for Ex-combatants and Memory, to strengthen ties of collaboration between the two governments and jointly commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Paris.

In addition, the minister made a floral offering together with the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, in the Garden of ‘The Nine’. The Company of the 2nd Armored Division of Free France was commanded by General Leclerc. Torres, along with Spain’s ambassador to France, Victorio Redondo; the Secretary of State for Democratic Memory, Fernando Martínez; and the Director General of Victim Care and Promotion of Democratic Memory, Zoraida Hijosa, announced other measures that will be carried out this year to recognize the sacrifice and courage of those Spanish Republicans who fought against fascism beyond the Pyrenees. In addition to the exhibition, the minister said that ‘Place of Memory’ will be declared the Garden of ‘The Nine’ where today the floral offering has been made, in the Parisian city hall.

As a culmination of this official visit to France, the Spanish delegation will this afternoon attend the solemn ceremony to pay tribute to Missak Manouchian and his group of the Resistance to the Nazi occupation. The French Government has recognised, in this context, the figure of the Salamanca Republican Celestino Alfonso Matos ‘Pierrot’, member of the Manouchian Group. He will be the first Spaniard to appear in the Pantheon of the Illustrious Men of Paris.