President of the Government visits Spanish troops in Afghanistan

President's News - 2012.12.22

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Kabul, Afghanistan

On his first visit to an overseas mission since he took office, the President of the Government congratulated the Spanish military personnel stationed in Kabul on the work being carried out in such a risky environment. "As a Spaniard and as President of the Government, I am extremely proud of the work you have been performing for many years now", he stressed.

He also recalled that the Spanish military personnel on this mission "are defending, in such a complex area of the world as this, values that are so important for us all, such as democracy, liberty, human rights and security".

In Herat, Mariano Rajoy asked the Spanish military personnel not to drop their guard until the end of the mission in a few weeks'' time, when they will face the difficult task of withdrawing. "I hope that you keep up morale and enjoy a safe trip home with the feeling that your work has been meaningful and has led to many people being able to improve their lives", he said.

Accompanied by the Minister for Defence, Pedro Morenés, and by the Chief of the Defence Staff, Fernando García Sánchez, the President of the Government paid tribute to the 62 Spanish military personnel who died in the Yakolev 42 accident in 2003 and laid a floral wreath at the foot of the monolith dedicated to them in Kabul airport.

Meeting with Karzai

Mariano Rajoy con Hamid KarzaiPool Moncloa

The President of the Spanish Government met with the Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, to whom he conveyed Spain''s commitment to Afghanistan beyond the term of the current NATO mission in 2014 and expressed his interest in the Spanish troops continuing to be stationed in Herat, where Spain manages the civilian and military airport.

The President of the Government asked Hamid Karzai to open the way for Spanish companies to participate in rebuilding the country and proposed a visit to Afghanistan by a delegation of Spanish companies operating in the fields of energy, telephony, housing and infrastructure.

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