Spain’s King Juan Carlos is to hold a private dinner for Iranian President Mohammad Khatami instead of the usual gala banquet, after the Iranian leader said he would countenance no alcohol being served in the course of his planned October visit.
"The usual banquet has been dropped from the program because of our leaders' insistence on respect for Islamic law," Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Hamed Reza Asefi told AFP on Monday. "In so far as it was deemed customary to serve alcohol at this sort of engagement, the Iranian side decided not to take part.
"The king will give a private dinner and a reception in honor of President Khatami," both of which will be alcohol-free, he added. (Albawaba.com)
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