Speech by the President of the Government to members of the Spanish military units deployed in Afghanistan

Herat (Afghanistan)

It is a great pleasure for me to have the opportunity to make this visit to Herat. The main reason is to be with you on the special days ahead and for you to feel close to your Government and to the rest of the Spanish nation, as well as HM the King of Spain who only yesterday personally asked me to convey a message of affection and good wishes to you all.

I would also like to hear more about your work and the living conditions at this forward operating base, as well as the tasks involved in fulfilling your mission. I am aware that the work undertaken by the Spanish units in recent years has improved the living conditions in this province. This base in Herat, as well as being an essential enclave for development in this part of Afghanistan, has made a decisive contribution to the development of operations by ISAF and the Spanish contingent in the West region.

Your efforts have been essential to the achievement of this objective and, for that reason, on behalf of all Spaniards and from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your efforts and your work to ensure that this unique mission is carried out with such vigour.

I would like to mention the efforts made by everybody: the medical evacuation helicopters, the field hospital, the Army Logistics Unit, the Guardia Civil, the unmanned aircraft unit and the Army helicopters and "Hercules" aircraft, which recently passed the ten thousand flight hour milestone in Afghanistan.

We still have a difficult task ahead: to firmly establish the conditions for completing the transition by 2014 and withdrawing our units and supporting our allies, guaranteeing efficiency and security in the process at all times.

I am convinced that, during the months that you remain here, you will maintain your efforts with the excellent dedication for which you are known, remembering that the mission stands above all else and that that mission is to help the people of Afghanistan and contribute to the stability that will create a framework for development in this country.

I would like to end by expressing my own recognition and encouragement for your work. What I am seeing fills me with pride and a deep sense of satisfaction. I hope that you can remain strong, I know you will, and I hope that you return home with a sense that your work here has been useful, that it has improved the lives of many people and has cemented more honourable foundations for the future of many people.

I would like to wish you all a happy Christmas and all the best for your mission, and especially for your families who suffer your absence. We are with you.

Thank you very much.