- FIRST MESSAGE -
Good morning to you all. As you know, less than 72 hours ago I was elected President of the Government of the nation and, believe me, it is a great satisfaction to me that one of the first things for me to do has been to speak to you all.
First of all I would like to express my gratitude for the valuable mission you are undertaking abroad. My thanks go to all of you. To the members of the armed forces, the Civil Guard, the Police, and the cooperation and scientific community; be secure in the knowledge that that you have the full recognition of the Government of the nation and all Spanish society.
You all know that this year, 2011, has been a difficult year for everyone. I wish to honour today, and share with all of you, the memory of all those who have lost their life serving Spain and also all those who have suffered the pain of their wounds. To all of them I wish to send my warmest greetings and all the recognition of the Government of Spain.
You all know also that we are going through a serious economic crisis and that events have be unfolding at a breakneck pace, which doubtless has made your work more complicated and perhaps less visible. But I wish you to be fully aware that Spanish society knows and is perfectly aware of what you do and that, for this reason, the institution that most of you form part of is one which is highly recognised and valued by the Spanish people as a whole.
I also want you to know that I am fully aware of the home sickness that you may be feeling on days like this. Today we Spanish all spend these special days of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with our families, we see our friends, and these are moments of peace and quiet, time for being with our loved ones, and for that reason we remember those who are far away. We remember and we recognise the value of your work, your efforts and your sacrifice. Let me tell you that you will always be a priority for Spain and, of course, for the Government I now preside over, and that we will spare no resources or efforts to ensure your safety and the effectiveness of your missions.
I also want you to know that from Afghanistan to the Antarctic, from the Indian Ocean to the Lebanon, our task, your task, is vital to the fulfilment of our international commitments. Spain will always honour its commitments in the world; Spain will always stand alongside its allies; Spain will always keep its word, and we shall do so always in the defence of freedom, security and human rights, of the individual rights of people, which is most important of all.
In this respect your work is fundamental and essential to us all, and your commitment, your sacrifice, your discretion, your professionalism and your expertise are exemplary values with which any challenge can be faced, even in the most difficult of circumstances, such as those in which many of you are living.
Be secure in the knowledge that we all recognise your courage and your efforts in the job you are doing; that we feel proud of all of you and that Spain is a great nation, a very important country, one of the most important countries in the world. For us, of course, it is the most important country. We are going to rise to the occasion and we have the forces which have always been able to do that, and I am absolutely convinced that they will continue to do so.
Frome here, from Madrid, from Spain I send you my warmest greetings and I hope you have a happy Christmas Eve, and a happy Christmas Day too, and that the coming year, 2012, that we are about to start will be the best of all possible years for you all, for your families, for your friends and for their loved ones, because, when all is said and done, that is what is most important to us as human beings.
Thank you very much.
- SECOND MESSAGE -
Thank you all very much for your words. Believe me it is enormously reassuring to hear from you and I wish you every happiness this Christmas Eve, and also tomorrow, Christmas Day, and on all the holidays to come, and that the new year brings you everything you wish for.
Thank you very much and Happy Christmas.