The Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has reiterated that his department continues to be focused on securing the release of Alicia Armesto, the Spanish citizen arrested on May 24 in eastern Libya, whom the Spanish consul stationed in the country was able to visit for the first time this Tuesday.
"Our consul in Libya has finally been able to personally visit and interview our compatriot Alicia Armesto," Albares stated in declarations sent to the media by his Ministry, detailing that the Spanish woman remains detained in a center in Benghazi along with the other nine members of the aid convoy for Gaza who were arrested while trying to negotiate the passage of the mission through Sirte.
The head of Foreign Affairs insisted that "we will not cease in all actions, both diplomatic and consular, until we achieve her full release and she can return to her family in Spain as soon as possible," emphasizing that the consul, who traveled to Benghazi from Tripoli after receiving the approval of the authorities controlling the eastern region, has met with both the attorney general and other local officials.
During the meeting with Armesto, the consul verified that both the clothes and the books that had been sent to her are indeed in her possession and that "she is able to use them," in addition to inquiring about "how she is" and "what needs she has."
Likewise, the consular representative informed her that the Ministry is "exercising all consular protection and all diplomatic protection" required by her situation and that all efforts are being deployed "so that she can return to Spain as soon as possible."
The consul has also contacted Armesto's family to inform them of her condition, according to her son, who told Europa Press that they are now "calmer" and also "very grateful," after not having had direct news from her since May 24.
Subsequently, Albares received relatives of Armesto at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, to whom he detailed the actions taken by the consul and assured them that he "will remain in Benghazi for as long as necessary" to continue providing her with "consular and diplomatic protection" and to continue working for her release.
Alicia Armesto was arrested along with nine other participants of the Sumud Convoy when they were heading to Sirte to negotiate with local authorities the transit of humanitarian aid they were transporting destined for Gaza.
The Spanish woman was detained on May 24 along with a Polish woman, an American woman, two Argentinians, a Uruguayan, a Portuguese woman, a Tunisian, and two Italians by the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army, under the command of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, a dominant figure in the east of the North African country.
Two days later, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the government based in eastern Libya -- not internationally recognized -- confirmed the detention of the ten members of the convoy, alleging that they had accessed its territory "without completing the legal procedures and obtaining the necessary permits" to continue their route towards Gaza. It also stated that they were being provided with the necessary care and that their case was being processed "in full respect of the law" while their situation was being clarified.