Speech by President of the Government to Spanish contingent on EUTM Mali mission

Bamako (Mali)

A very good day to you all.

General, in all sincerity I am delighted to be here. We can clearly see and feel the good health and high spirits here and hence there is nothing specific to mention, but we will talk to as many of the mothers of all those here that we can, because today is indeed Mothering Sunday. Hence, I am very grateful.

I had jotted down here, and it is true, that as President of the Government, I have the honour of visiting the Spanish troops overseas. I did so in Afghanistan - we were in Kabul and then in Herat and in Qala-i-Now - I did so in Djibouti, a complicated place, and I am doing so here now in Mali, and I feel honoured to do so; the truth is I feel very honoured.

I don't want to make a long speech but I would like to mention two or three things, just two or three things. The first thing is that you can all be proud of the work being done. In reality, as you are all aware, there are complications, problems and difficulties in all countries around the world. In some there are more problems and difficulties, and a lower standard of living than in others but, if one thing is key to ensuring the future of a country, it is that the country has a well-trained army, with technical expertise and that knows how to deal with the situation in tough times.

It is very difficult for a country to work when there is no army with the basic mission of guaranteeing the independence of its country and the rights and liberties of its citizens, and where there is no army the survival of the fittest becomes the law, and this, as we all know, is not the fairest law.

What you are doing is very important. Training is essential in any walk of life. The more a person knows and the more knowledge stored away during their life undoubtedly offers that person greater opportunities.

Hence, what you are doing in helping a country to have a good army to guarantee liberty and security, to fight terrorism and to guarantee the rights of people, is one of the noblest tasks that can be undertaken and I want to thank you and congratulate you on that.

As you are aware, many places in the world are going through tough times, and we are essentially here to help the people of Mali, to help its government and to try to reach an understanding and forge agreements. In the end, the worst enemies of all humanity are those that seek to play with people's lives, rights and freedoms. Spain, during the course of its history, has fought many battles against terrorism. Terrorism is today the enemy of one and all, whatever they may think and whoever they may be, and undoubtedly, when we are here or when we are anywhere outside of Spain, we are also defending the liberties, the rights and the security of all the people of Spain.

I don't want to go on any more. I had made some notes here but I believe that it is better for one to say the things that one really feels. But I will just add one more thing to close, which is the following: I am going to ask you to raise your glasses - I hope you all have one - and join me in toasting the figure that is the Spanish soldier.

Mr Minister, Ambassador, Admiral, General, public officials, ladies and gentlemen, officers, non-commissioned officers, troops, dear friends, "To the King! To the Armed Forces! I hope the rest of your mission is successful and I wish a safe return home to all those of you who are leaving and, moreover, I believe you are going to Pontevedra which, as you all know, is one of the most important cities in the whole world. Thank you very much.