The Prince of Asturias Opens the UNO Support Base in Valencia

The Prince and Mr. Ban Ki-moon during the salute to the Flag

Prince Felipe, along with the secretary general of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, on 6th July has opened the new Communications and Data Centre for United Nations Peace-keeping Operations in the locality of Quart de Poblet in Valencia.

The new installations allow securely and efficiently doubling the communications co-ordination capabilities of peace-keeping missions led by the United Nations, which to date have had a single communications centre situated in Brindisi (Italy).

After highlighting the “effort and sacrifice in favour of international peace and security” with which the Spanish Armed Forces have been participating in missions backed by the United Nations for over 20 years, Prince Felipe emphasised the importance of this new centre, given that “for our peace-keeping operations, communications may be the difference between life and death”.

In turn, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, expressed gratitude for our country’s close collaboration by pointing out that the new base is another demonstration of Spain’s commitment with the advance toward United Nations objectives.

The ceremony was attended by the ministress of Defence and the ministress of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, Ms. Carme Chacón and Ms. Trinidad Jiménez, respectively; the president of the Autonomous Government of Valencia, Mr. Francisco Camps; the Joint Chief of the Defence Staff, General José Julio Rodríguez; the Chief of the Army Staff, Army General Fulgencio Coll, among other civilian and military authorities.