The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, highlighted Spain’s commitment to the different missions deployed around the world and hoped that A ceasefire in the Middle East “soon”: “I hope that the ceasefire will come soon, I hope that Lebanon can soon return to normality, that normality to which Spain has contributed for many years to be the general tone.”
Robles indicated this Saturday before the national day paradeby videoconference with the different missions and to the more than 3,000 soldiers deployed abroad. “Spain’s commitment to peace missions has been an unequivocal commitment for many years. It has even paid a very high price in human lives, and that is why today this video conference is being organized to convey to 3,743 men and women who represent Spain, all our love, our pride, our satisfaction,” Robles remarked.
The Minister of Defense stressed the “very important role” what the contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which is “contribute in a particular and very important way to peace“, in this area which is so agitated at the moment, he remarked.
The Chief of Defense Staff, Teodoro Esteban López Calderón, also highlighted the situation in Lebanon, while emphasizing that “there is no mission without risk”, which is why he asked to do not let your guard down and maintain all safety measures. López Calderón indicated that during the parade this Saturday there will be “a mention “to the Lebanese contingent” so that all the Spanish people recognize or be aware of the situation they are experiencing in these very complex times in the region.
According to Lieutenant General José Antonio Agüero Martínez, from the Adazi base, in Latvia, he detailed that among these 3,743, the majority are from the army; 2,635 come from the army; 738 of the Navy; 292 of the Air Force; 64 common corps and 14 civil guards. The majority of contributions to missions come from NATO, approximately 2,450, the United Nations, 671, both in Lebanon and Colombia, and the European Union, approximately 324. By country, currently missions take place in 15 countries: Latvia, Estonia, Slovakia, Romania, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mozambique, Central African Republic, Somalia, Senegal, Djibouti, Iraq, Lebanon and Colombia, Mauritania.
In reference to this connection by videoconference, Robles emphasized that “it is much more than a tradition: “From Spain we want to wish you a very happy National Day, telling you how proud we are of you all in these troubled times (…) always leaving the Spanish flag very high”.
