Why Not Magazine Interview with Daughter of Late Ambassador Pedro Manuel de Arístegui
May 14, 2011
We recently had an interview with Ms. Alexandra de Aristegui, the daughter of the late Spanish ambassador to Lebanon Mr. Pedro Manuel Aristegui who was killed in his Spanish Embassy in Lebanon on April 16, 1989.
His daughter, Alexandra de Aristgui was born in Lebanon, and is currently residing in the country. She is a recent university graduate with a degree in Political Science. Alexandra shares many of her father’s values and principles based on just and integrity, and says she would love to become a politician one day who can help make a positive contribution to the region and the world.
Q. Since you come from a diplomatic family, do you have any interests in pursuing a similar line in the future?
Alexandra: Well first in the beginning when I was just a child, I did not want to hear anything about it really, I think it was a kind of a self protection. But it is not only my father, my two grandfathers were also politicians and my mother’s fathers and my father’s father were also diplomats, and my uncles and my cousins….but later I ended becoming very attached to it. I think life is ironic in its own way. So even if you don’t want to do something, if it is meant to be then it will happen. So now I think it [politics] is actually my passion! It is really something that I love, and I specialized in Middle Eastern politics at university.
Q. Do u think that you will just keep politics in a “sleep mode" on the side until you get an opportunity?
Alexandra: No. I think I will fail in my life if I end up not pursuing a political career, but at the same time I think you have to be very solid and mature before starting in the public sector. So I prefer to gain maturity first and then in 10-15 years from now it will be more appropriate.
May 14, 2011
We recently had an interview with Ms. Alexandra de Aristegui, the daughter of the late Spanish ambassador to Lebanon Mr. Pedro Manuel Aristegui who was killed in his Spanish Embassy in Lebanon on April 16, 1989.
His daughter, Alexandra de Aristgui was born in Lebanon, and is currently residing in the country. She is a recent university graduate with a degree in Political Science. Alexandra shares many of her father’s values and principles based on just and integrity, and says she would love to become a politician one day who can help make a positive contribution to the region and the world.
Q. Since you come from a diplomatic family, do you have any interests in pursuing a similar line in the future?
Alexandra: Well first in the beginning when I was just a child, I did not want to hear anything about it really, I think it was a kind of a self protection. But it is not only my father, my two grandfathers were also politicians and my mother’s fathers and my father’s father were also diplomats, and my uncles and my cousins….but later I ended becoming very attached to it. I think life is ironic in its own way. So even if you don’t want to do something, if it is meant to be then it will happen. So now I think it [politics] is actually my passion! It is really something that I love, and I specialized in Middle Eastern politics at university.
Q. Do u think that you will just keep politics in a “sleep mode" on the side until you get an opportunity?
Alexandra: No. I think I will fail in my life if I end up not pursuing a political career, but at the same time I think you have to be very solid and mature before starting in the public sector. So I prefer to gain maturity first and then in 10-15 years from now it will be more appropriate.
Q. How old were you when your father got killed?
Alexandra: I was 1 year and 5 days old.
Q. What did this incident have on your life?
Alexandra: I think it had a lot of impact on me, even though I did not know my father. This is because of his personality and his presence and how much he touched the lives of strangers, and [the lives of] my family and mother…it is like a fairy tale, when they tell you a story and then at the end of the day you have trouble relating to it because it is so “grand”…but it didn’t feel that I never had a father, but more like a lack of presence because his guidelines and the spirit and the philosophy were [remained] very strong in my family and in our memory…it was always present. And may be a sense to continue with his values based on integrity and respect and generosity, just to try to continue what he started and to hold on to his values.
Late Pedro Manuel de Artistegui - Spanish Ambassador to Lebanon during the 1980's
Q. How do you feel about your brother Mr. Gustavo being a popular figure in the Popular Party in Spain? How do you indentify with him?
Alexandra: My brother has a strong presence in my life, we are very close and he is someone that I respect immensely and that I look up to and someone who gave us a lot of support and guidance. I feel blessed to have him and my other two brothers.
Q. Do you think the area of politics has any risks?
Alexandra: I think it is risky if you do it with devotion and integrity so at one point you will be confronted with a risky situation…anything in the public life when you don’t change your mind based on the political forces, then yes it becomes risky.
I mean in some countries, if you were in the Netherlands for example I don’t think you would have these problems, but in Lebanon where I reside it is definitely….and it was proved that that any man of integrity had to pay a certain price.
Q. Speaking of integrity and honesty, how would your father view the current revolutions that are happening around the world today?
Alexandra: He would definitely be standing by their side.
Q. How do you the see the relationship between Spain and Lebanon?
Alexandra: I think it is a bit weak, but I think there’s potential because I think we are very similar countries/cultures relating to food and the way we approach people, and we even have the same problems because there’s also lot of problems in the community and divisions in Spain. So it is more about community problems there, while here in Lebanon it is more around religions.
Q. Do you feel closer to Spain, or to Lebanon?
Alexandra: I think I have two very different kinds of relationships. About Spain I love Madrid it is my city, it is in my heart. But I have another relationship with Lebanon. I grew up more here so I feel that this country is more for me…and if you live in Lebanon it educates you the hard way, and the events that you live here are quite extraordinary. And from a political side of course I am more inclined to politics here because I think that’s what is more interesting for me.
Q. What are your hopes for both countries?
Alexandra: My hopes for Lebanon are very big, I hope this country will become a country which has a bit of unity and coherence and to see policies created and implemented. All we talk about here are non-existent problems…, problems that they created just to keep the balance of power and to keep the status quo. But are many problems that have to be dealt with, economically and socially. And I hope that the youth will take things into their own hands like they did in the other countries, it is all the young generation. And I hope that they will take steps to create a new country and not to always have the same things happening and to be stuck in what’s comfortable…this is our problem here which is we like to stay in what’s comfortable and not to change anything.
For Spain, I hope it will not go bankrupt for now! It is going through difficult times right now. Well Spain is lovely. I also hope that it can deal with [solve] its community problems there.