King Juan Carlos I of Spain has paid a two-day private visit to Moscow at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin. This was not the King's first visit to Russia. He paid two official visits to Moscow, in 1984 and 1997, and in September 2001 made a stopover in the Russian capital to talk to Mr. Putin. Since then the two leaders have had warm feelings toward each other. The latest visit provided further proof of a special climate in Russian-Spanish relations.

From the airport King Juan Carlos I was taken to Mr. Putin's country residence, where the two heads of state discussed bilateral relations and international issues of common concern. Personal relations are most friendly. The King speaks of Mr. Putin as "a friend".

On the following day President Putin received the King of Spain in the Green Parlour of the Great Kremlin Palace, where opinions were exchanged informally on a wide range of issues. Though the visit was private and the Spanish Constitution does not entitle a king to conduct talks on substantive matters, the two leaders said at the outset that they had much to discuss.

Mr. Putin stressed that the King's private visit to Moscow underscores the high level of relations reached by Russia and Spain.  He called attention to the eight inter-governmental and five ministerial agreements signed recently by the two countries. He also spoke of cultural relations, saying they had made "considerable progress".

Responding, the King said the invitation to visit Moscow showed once again that "the two heads of state are eager to achieve even better understanding". "Spain," he said, "has always sought to have not simply good, but excellent, relations with Russia." He thanked Mr. Putin for the "cordial atmosphere" of the meeting.

As for mutual understanding, neither Russia nor Spain can complain of a lack of it; there is unanimity on a majority of issues.

After the conversation the two leaders took a walk around the Kremlin’s Cathedral Square. The day was fine, and crowds of tourists greeted them enthusiastically. The Spanish tourists among them were particularly delighted to see their monarch since Spaniards regard it as great luck to touch their King. Without a doubt, the security team was on tenterhooks. Tourists accompanied the two leaders throughout the walk.

Acting as guide for the King, President Putin recounted the history of Cathedral Square. The King was most impressed by the Cathedral of the Assumption. He also admired the famous Tsar Cannon.

As expected, no official documents were signed at the close of the visit.

By Natalya Grigorieva

(“Moscow today and tomorrow”. September. 2002)