Opening ceremony of the new academic year at the General Military Academy

The Minister of Defense, María Dolores de Cospedal, has opened the new 2017/2018 academic year at the General Military Academy (AGM in Spanish),
the 11th of September, in Zaragoza. The opening ceremony of the academic year was also attended by the Chief of Army Staff, General Francisco Javier Varela Salas; Chief of the Training and Doctrine Command of the Army, Lieutenant Colonel José Carrasco Gabaldón;
and the General of the  Military Teaching and  Recruitment, Major General, Jerónimo De Gregorio y Monmmeneu.

During her speech, the principal of Defense confirmed that defending the Spanish sovereignty and independence, as well as its territorial integrity and constitutional legal system "is probably the highest  undertaking to which a Spanish citizen can dedicate his life". Additionally, De Cospedal honoured the Spanish physiotherapist of the International Red Cross, Lorena Enebral, murdered that same day at the Afghan locality of Mazar-e-Sharif.

Furthermore, the Minister of Defense made reference to the 16th anniversary of the 11S terror attacks that took place in New York, claiming that against terrorism "it is essential the colaboration of the Armed Forces and the State Security Forces, as well as other national and international security organisms".

Finally, the director of the General Military Academy, General Luis Lanchares, confirmed that the General Academy "is ready to start a new academic year in order to continue, as it has done since its founding, morally preparing, the next officials of the Army, giving to them the spirit, comradeship, soul fortitude, dignity and  austerity that the Army occupation demands".
 

Minister's speech at the opening ceremony (Photo: MINISDEF)