Kerry cancels Madrid trip after breaking leg on bike
US Secretary of State John Kerry has cancelled what would have been his first visit to Spain, after breaking his leg in a cycling accident in France.
The United States’ top diplomat, John Kerry, has cancelled his visit to Madrid after breaking his right femur in a cycling accident in the French Alps.
The accident happened near the town of Scionzier, around 40km (25 miles) from the Swiss border after Kerry collided with a curb.
He was taken by helicopter to hospital in Geneva, where he spent Sunday night.
Kerry will be flown to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, cancelling his scheduled trip to Madrid, where he was due to meet with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and King Felipe on Monday.
@JohnKerry headed to Boston for treatment of broken leg. In good spirits, though disappointed, & grateful for local support/medical care.
— John Kirby (@statedeptspox) May 31, 2015
"The Secretary very much regrets not being able to visit Spain to meet with one of our close allies for discussions on a range of issues, as well as being unable to attend the counter-ISIL coalition ministerial meeting on Tuesday in Paris in person," the US State Department said in a statement released on Sunday.
Kerry was due to meet with Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel García Margallo, as well as King Felipe and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
One of Kerry’s main reasons for visiting Spain was to sign a deal to make Morón airbase, near Seville, a permanent base for US military forces. Spain’s cabinet has approved the deal, which will see 3,000 US troops permanently stationed at the base, allowing for a rapid US response to crises in Africa.
Kerry is well known for his love of cycling and takes his bike with him on foreign travels.
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The United States’ top diplomat, John Kerry, has cancelled his visit to Madrid after breaking his right femur in a cycling accident in the French Alps.
The accident happened near the town of Scionzier, around 40km (25 miles) from the Swiss border after Kerry collided with a curb.
He was taken by helicopter to hospital in Geneva, where he spent Sunday night.
Kerry will be flown to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, cancelling his scheduled trip to Madrid, where he was due to meet with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and King Felipe on Monday.
@JohnKerry headed to Boston for treatment of broken leg. In good spirits, though disappointed, & grateful for local support/medical care.
— John Kirby (@statedeptspox) May 31, 2015
"The Secretary very much regrets not being able to visit Spain to meet with one of our close allies for discussions on a range of issues, as well as being unable to attend the counter-ISIL coalition ministerial meeting on Tuesday in Paris in person," the US State Department said in a statement released on Sunday.
Kerry was due to meet with Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel García Margallo, as well as King Felipe and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
One of Kerry’s main reasons for visiting Spain was to sign a deal to make Morón airbase, near Seville, a permanent base for US military forces. Spain’s cabinet has approved the deal, which will see 3,000 US troops permanently stationed at the base, allowing for a rapid US response to crises in Africa.
Kerry is well known for his love of cycling and takes his bike with him on foreign travels.
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