Steinmeier: "The horror of war and the vulnerability of innocent people has been written indelibly in Gernika."

Thevictims of the Nazi bombing on 26 April 1937  were remembered this Friday in Gernikawith the presence of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier , President Imanol Pradales and King Felipe VI.

The President received the German President and the First Lady at Ajuria Enea, where they arrived an hour late, as their flight was delayed.

Subsequently, in Gernika, a tribute was paid to the victims of the bombing by the German Condor Legion and the Italian Aviation Legionary. Along with a floral offering, there was a ringing of bells in the Zallo cemetery, attended by survivors of the bombing.

The German Head of State has stood next to Philip VI in front of the templete where the German officials have placed the flower crown . The act was performed by the Bilbao Coral Society and its band of txistularis.

Next, everyone has visited the Gernika Peace Museum , where the German Head of State has spoken to two 95-year-old women who survived the bombing -Crucita Etxabe and Mari Karmen Agirre, who have both remembered their experiences then, a day they remember very well, and whose testimonies are very important to never forget what happened.

The tour of themuseum has begun  in the house of Begoña, a living room reminiscent of a woman's house in the bombing of Gernika, and then moved to the 'Reconciliation Hall', where there are pieces that show the reconciliation of the cities of Pfzorheim (Germany) and Gernika (Bizkaia), as well as the letter that former German President Román Herzog sent to the Gernika City Councilin 1997.

In statements to the media, Steinmeier has expressed solidarity with the victims of the bombing and said that his meeting with them has been very emotional because they have been able to share their experiences. However, he has not mentioned the word forgiveness. The German President has stressed that in Gernika "thehorror of the war and the vulnerability of innocent people has been written indelibly in European memory. "He has acknowledged that the bombing was a"brutal crime, with the sole aim being the civilian population. "

"I humbly cross Gernika. We do not want to forget, nor will we forget, the suffering caused. (...) We must defend peace, freedom and democracy, that is the message that Gernika is sending us today, "he stressed.

In this context, Emilio Aperribay The survivor of the Ernika bombing has been "shocked"and thanked the German president, who hopes that what happened" will not happen anywhere else. "

The King of Spain has attended the tribute paid to the victims of the bombing of Gernika, which has provoked a wave of protests on the streets of Gernika in the morning, which has taken place amid strong security measures.

This afternoon the historic visit of the German President ended with an institutional visit to the Guggenheim Museo in Bilbao. Alemania's President and First Lady have been received in Bilbao by the President, Imanol Pradales ; the Director of the Guggenheim Museum, Mira Arzalluz; the Mayor of the capital of Bizkaia, Juan Mari Aburto;