National
King sees in the New Year with the Spanish troops in Afghanistan
By h.b.
Dec 31, 2007 - 8:24 AM

King Don Juan Carlos has today made a surprise visit to the Spanish troops in Afghanistan. It comes five years after he made a similar trip to Kosovo in 2002 on the Day of the Armed Forces.

The King, accompanied by the Minister for Defence, José Antonio Alonso, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Féliz Sanz, departed from the Torrejón de Ardoz airbase in Madrid.
After a stop over in Kuwait, he arrived at 6,30am at the Spanish support base in Herat in the West of Afghanistan.

A statement from the Government said that the King had been planning the visit with the Prime Minister for some time, and the Monarch had indicated a desire to visit the troops in Afghanistan ahead of his 70th birthday, January 6. He will see in the New Year in the company of the soldiers.

During his trip the King will be able to talk to the Spanish commanders, and greet the 742 Spanish soldiers currently serving in Afghanistan as part of the International Safety Assistance Force ISAF.

Meanwhile the Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, is expected to visit the Spanish troops in Lebanon some time in January, although the exact date has not been given.

The Spanish flag flying over the base in Herat, Afghanistan - Archive Photo EFE