Noticia

Disculpad que esté en inglés aunque hable de españoles:

The Spanish government has cancelled a state banquet in honour of President Mohammed Khatami of Iran after Tehran insisted that he would not sit down to a meal with wine on the table.

The Spanish love and respect for wine prompted the diplomatic problem. Not only is wine served at every official meal but Spaniards usually toast foreign delegations with a glass of cava - sparkling Spanish wine - before sitting down to eat.

The state banquet, which was due to be given by King Juan Carlos, was removed from the schedule after Mr Khatami's protocol office cited religious reasons for refusing to eat at a table where alcohol, specifically wine, was on offer.

Rather than agree to a wine-free meal, the Spaniards cancelled the celebration customarily afforded to visiting foreign dignitaries.

A Spanish Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "It was to avoid a stand-off between the protocol offices of the two countries and so that the Spanish custom of drinking wine with meals was not dishonoured."

An Iranian foreign affairs spokesman said: "Islamic principles are very important for Iran. Traditionally in state banquets wine is served but the Iranian delegation found participation in such a banquet inexpedient."

According to the newspaper El Mundo the king was ready to make any concession to the reform-minded president on the first visit by an Iranian head of state since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

But the conservative government headed by Jose Maria Aznar, the prime minister, was not so amenable.

The report said: "The government arguments have put a lot of emphasis on the cultural tradition that surrounds the consumption of wine in a country like Spain."