First broadcast from the radio studio at the Spanish base in Iraq

Radio Nacional de España (RNE) has opened a studio at the Spanish base “Gran Capitán”, located in Besmayah, 60 km south of Baghdad. From 10 July, the soldiers deployed there can listen to the station’s programming as well as to programmes produced by the contingent itself.

The broadcast from the “Santa Teresa” studio, at 92.5 on the FM dial, started with the military march Tercios Heróicos performed by the Legion Brigade music band whilst Major Ángel Timón, chief of the Communications Office of the Spanish contingent in Iraq, greeted the audience.

Colonel Julio Salom, chief of the contingent and the base, came on air next. He asserted that it was important for the Spanish troops stationed there to have their own programming, which will be combined with connections to RNE.

Speaking from Madrid through a telephone connection, Colonel Dionisio Urteaga, chief of the Department of Communication and Civil Affairs of Operations Command, stated that in the future international missions with a significant contingent may be able to have their own radio studio, similar to the one just launched in Besmayah.

For his part, the chief of Operations Command, Admiral Teodoro López, addressed the Spanish soldiers who were listening to the station through their mobile phones. After thanking them for their effort, he praised them for their performance during the mission in Iraq shortly before they are due to be relieved by the Parachute Brigade.

“Santa Teresa” radio studio in Besmayah (Photo: MINISDEF)

This is the first time an international mission of the Spanish Armed Forces has a radio studio to produce and broadcast its own programming, and that has been possible thanks to the cooperation of RNE.