The Diplomat
The Secretary General of Defense Policy (SEGENPOL), Admiral Juan Francisco Martínez Núñez, was decorated yesterday with the National Order of the Star of Romania in the rank of Commander.
During the ceremony, held at the ‘Alcazar’ Military Residence in Madrid, the Romanian Ambassador to Spain, George Gabriel Bologan, presented the distinction, the highest Romanian decoration, to Admiral Martinez Nunez on behalf of the President of his country, Klaus Iohannis, as a token of his “exceptional contribution to the support and promotion of bilateral relations” between the two countries, as reported by the Ministry of Defence and the Romanian Embassy in press releases.
“The decoration is a recognition to the person, to his role, to the Spanish Army, to his military deployed in the world, it is a recognition for his fallen colleagues in different missions and in defense of the international order, and it is also a sign of friendship and of knowing how to say ‘thank you, Admiral Núñez’,” the Romanian ambassador declared during the ceremony, which began with the interpretation of the national anthems of Spain and Romania.
The ambassador affirmed that “the military offer us the model for fighting, not only in war, but also in everyday life” and took the opportunity to thank the Spanish Armed Forces for their friendship and presence in Romania.
George Bologan emphasised that Romania and Spain, as partners in the North Atlantic Alliance, have achieved important goals, and added: “The courage of the military and the solidarity they show at all times are an example to civil society and an incentive to build a more united and safer world for generations to come”.
In his words of thanks, the admiral expressed the “immense honor” of receiving “a distinction of such prestige” from a country with which he has maintained “a particularly close and always very gratifying relationship”. Romania awards the National Order of the Star to individuals who have performed exceptional services to the Romanian state or people and who have contributed to the development of Romania’s friendly relations with other countries.
“With common European, Mediterranean and Latin cultural foundations, our peoples have developed, despite the geographical remoteness, an endearing affective proximity that can be appreciated in daily relations and increasingly in our collaboration in military operations and missions,” stressed Martínez Núñez, who referred to the defense, air police and ground forces deployments in which both countries participate at the European Union level.
The presentation ceremony, which ended with the European anthem, was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón, and the Chief of Staff of the Spanish Army, Army General Amador Enseñat, together with other commanders of the Armed Forces and military attachés from different countries.
Also present, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were the ambassadors’ introducer, María Sebastián de Erice, and the Deputy Director General for International Security Affairs, Manuel Selas.
