Don Juan Carlos and Doña Sofia, King and Queen of Spain, arrived last night for a three-day visit. They were received by the Minister of Foreign Relations Hugo Tolentino Dipp, Dominican ambassador in Spain, Jose Augusto Vega Imbert, the head of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Relations Francisco Nadal Rincón and Ambassador of Spain Fermín Prieto Castro. The monarchs accepted an invitation made by President Hipólito Mejía when as President-elect he visited the King and Queen at the Palacio de El Pardo on 5 July 2000. 70 Spanish businessmen accompany the monarchs. Also traveling with them are the spokesman of the government, Pió Cabanillas; the director of the Agency for International Cooperation, Jesus Gracia; the president of the Confederación Española de Organizaciones Empresariales, Jose María Cuevas; the spokesman for the Casa Real, Jordi Gutiérez, and the media person of the Casa Real, Blanca Gisbert. The King and Queen are staying at the Occidental Hotel chain Hotel Embajador presidential suite. This is the second more than 24-hour visit of the monarchs that had visited in 1976. The schedule for their stay in the DR is as follows: Tuesday, 14 November 10 pm. Arrival to Las Americas International. Wednesday, 15 November 10 am. National Palace activity. Welcome by President Mejía. Queen Sofia will be decorated with the Gold Cross, Duarte, Sánchez and Mella Order. King Juan Carlos received the highest decoration when he visited in 1976. King Juan Carlos will present President Hipólito Mejía with the Isabel la Católica decoration. 11 am. Talks between the King and President Mejía. 11:35 am. Visit to the Altar de la Patria, where the tombs of forefathers of the nation are located, for a floral offering. 12 noon. Visit to the former Palacio Consistorial. Declaration of the monarchs as distinguished visitors to Santo Domingo. Handing of the key to the city. The King will speak. Visit to the Ministry of Foreign Relations where a treaty for cooperation to reduce the consumption and trafficking of illegal drugs will be signed. Signing of the technical and cultural cooperation agreement. Private luncheon at the National Palace with President Mejía and his family. 5 pm. Visit to the National Congress. President of the Senate and King of Spain will speak. 8 pm. Arrival to the National Palace. Taking of the official photograph commemorating the visit. President Mejía and King of Spain will speak. Thursday, 16 November 9:45 am. Meeting with the King and the board of directors of Union Fenosa (major investor in the energy sector in the DR) at the Hotel Embajador. 10:30 am. Visit of the monarchs to the Supreme Court of Justice. 11:15 am. Reception for the Spanish community in the DR at the Casa de España. 12:30 am. Hotel Meliá Santo Domingo meeting with the Sociedad Benefica Pro Emigrantes Españoles. 1 pm. Luncheon with businessmen offered by the King. Words by the King and President Mejía. Restaurant La Bricciola. 1 pm. Visit by the Queen and First Lady to the Colonial City. Private luncheon. Press conference President Mejía. 5 pm. Visit by the monarchs to the Fortaleza Ozama in the Colonial City. Photography exhibition of the new street lights system of the Colonial City, a project sponsored by the Spanish government. Stroll along Calle Las Damas. 5:45 pm. Visit to the Museum of Modern Art. Exhibition on the influence of Spanish painters in Dominican art of the 20th century. Visit to exhibitions sponsored by the Generalitat Valenciana of Juan Genovés and Ramón Calduch. 8:30 pm. Reception in honor of President and First Lady offered by the monarchs of Spain at the residence of the ambassador of Spain. Friday, 17 November. 9:45 am Farewell ceremony. Departure to Panama.
