Neither the US nor Israel contemplate changes in the Esplanade of the Mosques

USPA NEWS - Secretary of State of the United States, John Kerry, he said Monday in Madrid, during the second day of his official visit to Spain, which neither the US nor Israel contemplate changes in the status quo of the Esplanade of the Mosques in Jerusalem.

"Israel also understands the importance of the status quo and it is important that there is clarity" in this case, John Kerry said at the press conference after his meeting with the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy. The explosive situation in the Middle East was one of the issues addressed Rajoy and Kerry, along with Syria and Iraq wars and the fight against jihadist terrorism. Topics also discussed later with King Philip VI, who received in Zarzuela Palace the head of US diplomacy.

On the agenda of John Kerry met with the leader of the opposition in the Spanish Parliament, the secretary general of the Socialist Party, Pedro Sanchez was included. Socialist leader met with Secretary Kerry after the meeting in which the Socialist Party Monday approved nominations for the elections on December 20. On these elections he was asked the chief US diplomat, who declined to go into assessments of what the polls may decide. "We respect democracy. We will listen to the Spanish people," after refusing to "decide and meddle" in the Spanish election campaign.

However, he did not forget to express the support of the Obama administration to the Government of Mariano Rajoy. "After years of sacrifices and reforms, Spain is growing again. The Spanish people must be proud of you, and America is proud to be an important ally of Spain," he said. Nor he avoided the separatist conflict in Catalonia, but repeated the words of President Obama: "We, as a country, we are committed to maintaining a relationship with a strong and united Spain. We work for a Spain that is part of the alliance of the European Union."