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| buildings and structures in madrid | |
| monuments and memorials in spain | |
| 2004 madrid train bombings | |
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The monument is made up of 192 Olive Tree s or Cypress es, one for each person killed, and is surrounded by a canalized stream, since water is a symbol of life. It is located on a visible hill, able to be visited, in close proximity to the Atocha Railway Station , one of the scenes of the tragedy. INAUGURATION Their Majesties King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain presided over the inaugural ceremony, which took place on 11 March 2005 . They had the honour of being the first ones to put flowers down at the monument. That bunch of white flowers held the message "''In memory of all the victims of terrorism''". Their Royal Highnesses Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Asturias , the President Of The Government Of Spain José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and political representatives of all the parties took part in the inauguration, as well as some Chiefs Of State and world leaders like the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan , the King Of Morocco Mohammed VI , the President Of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai , the President Of Senegal Abdoulaye Wade , the President Of Mauritania Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya , the President Of Portugal Jorge Sampaio , the Grand Duke Henri Of Luxembourg , the foreign policy chief of the European Union Javier Solana , the President Of The European Parliament Josep Borrell and the Ambassador s of the sixteen countries that lost some of its citizens in the attacks. No speeches were delivered during the ceremony at the request of the relatives of the victims, but a 17-year-old Cellist performed "''El Cant dels Ocells''" (in Catalan "''The Chant Of The Birds''") by Pau Casals . |
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