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“We value you and are waiting for you”: Sánchez's Christmas message to troops abroad
25/12/2019
PEDRO Sánchez sent 'sincere hugs' to Spain's forces serving overseas from 'a country that values and respects' them and is 'waiting for them to come home'.
In his second annual presidential message to the troops via videoconference – a Christmas Eve tradition in Spain – the PSOE (socialist) leader referred to the 'enormous dedication, effort and hard work' of the men and women who are posted in conflict zones, and thanked them for their 'sacrifice, abnegation, service vocation and sense of duty', which, he said, are 'values highly appreciated by the people of Spain'.
“You're our first line of defence in places where the security of Europe and, by default, Spain, is in jeopardy,” Sánchez told the soldiers.
This year, a total of 9,470 members of the Spanish forces have served in different missions in such diverse countries as Iraq, Afghanistan, the Central Africa Republic (CAR), Lebanon, Colombia, Lithuania, and even the Antarctic.
And they are extremely highly-qualified: for every 10 days of 'boots on the ground', soldiers need 30 days of training.
During the videoconference, Sánchez was accompanied by his minister of defence, Margarita Robles, who had a short but profound message for the troops: “We feel deeply proud of you all.”
They were also in the company of the Head of State for Defence (JEMAD), General Fernando Alejandre, who expressed his gratitude, praise and Christmas wishes.
This year, Sánchez addressed the troops from the Moncloa Palace, the official presidential residence – in accordance with tradition – but last year, he broke with protocol entirely by speaking to the soldiers overseas from the Naval ship Juan Carlos I, named after the retired King and father of the current monarch, Felipe VI.
Then, in his first Christmas Eve communication with the forces abroad, Sánchez told them they were 'the best ambassadors' for their country, that he, the rest of the government and all the people of Spain were 'proud' of them, and urged them to stay safe.
“We want you home again, very soon, safe and sound, so that you can say, 'mission accomplished',” Sánchez said in 2018.
At the time, he was just about to embark on his first presidential visit to an overseas mission base – to Mali, where the Spanish contingent was stationed to train the African nation's own Armed Forces as part of the 'EUTM Mali' operation.
Spanish soldiers abroad, whether they are in conflict zones, on surveillance missions, training forces in their host countries, or carrying out aid and disaster recovery work, normally find time to celebrate the festive season – typically with a traditional Christmas Eve meal, although sometimes in shifts to ensure posts are covered, or even from the trenches.
The camaraderie between them, living and working in such close proximity to each other, means that although most admit to missing their families, they do not feel as though they are spending Christmas alone.
On New Year's Eve, in accordance with Spanish custom, they stop for a couple of minutes where they can to eat their 12 grapes on each of the chimes at midnight, but normally go straight back to their posts.
The presidential videoconference is a great comfort to their friends and relatives back in Spain, and is a chance to link up with home at one of the most poignant times of the year.
In the above photograph, Sánchez sits between Margarita Robles (left) and General Fernando Alejandre (right).
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PEDRO Sánchez sent 'sincere hugs' to Spain's forces serving overseas from 'a country that values and respects' them and is 'waiting for them to come home'.
In his second annual presidential message to the troops via videoconference – a Christmas Eve tradition in Spain – the PSOE (socialist) leader referred to the 'enormous dedication, effort and hard work' of the men and women who are posted in conflict zones, and thanked them for their 'sacrifice, abnegation, service vocation and sense of duty', which, he said, are 'values highly appreciated by the people of Spain'.
“You're our first line of defence in places where the security of Europe and, by default, Spain, is in jeopardy,” Sánchez told the soldiers.
This year, a total of 9,470 members of the Spanish forces have served in different missions in such diverse countries as Iraq, Afghanistan, the Central Africa Republic (CAR), Lebanon, Colombia, Lithuania, and even the Antarctic.
And they are extremely highly-qualified: for every 10 days of 'boots on the ground', soldiers need 30 days of training.
During the videoconference, Sánchez was accompanied by his minister of defence, Margarita Robles, who had a short but profound message for the troops: “We feel deeply proud of you all.”
They were also in the company of the Head of State for Defence (JEMAD), General Fernando Alejandre, who expressed his gratitude, praise and Christmas wishes.
This year, Sánchez addressed the troops from the Moncloa Palace, the official presidential residence – in accordance with tradition – but last year, he broke with protocol entirely by speaking to the soldiers overseas from the Naval ship Juan Carlos I, named after the retired King and father of the current monarch, Felipe VI.
Then, in his first Christmas Eve communication with the forces abroad, Sánchez told them they were 'the best ambassadors' for their country, that he, the rest of the government and all the people of Spain were 'proud' of them, and urged them to stay safe.
“We want you home again, very soon, safe and sound, so that you can say, 'mission accomplished',” Sánchez said in 2018.
At the time, he was just about to embark on his first presidential visit to an overseas mission base – to Mali, where the Spanish contingent was stationed to train the African nation's own Armed Forces as part of the 'EUTM Mali' operation.
Spanish soldiers abroad, whether they are in conflict zones, on surveillance missions, training forces in their host countries, or carrying out aid and disaster recovery work, normally find time to celebrate the festive season – typically with a traditional Christmas Eve meal, although sometimes in shifts to ensure posts are covered, or even from the trenches.
The camaraderie between them, living and working in such close proximity to each other, means that although most admit to missing their families, they do not feel as though they are spending Christmas alone.
On New Year's Eve, in accordance with Spanish custom, they stop for a couple of minutes where they can to eat their 12 grapes on each of the chimes at midnight, but normally go straight back to their posts.
The presidential videoconference is a great comfort to their friends and relatives back in Spain, and is a chance to link up with home at one of the most poignant times of the year.
In the above photograph, Sánchez sits between Margarita Robles (left) and General Fernando Alejandre (right).
Related Topics
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