France: Emmanuel Macron says his "gratitude" to the armies on the occasion of the holidays
President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the armies this Friday, December 24 in a sequence broadcast on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
Ludovic MARIN POOL / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the armies this Friday, December 24, expressing in a video message his "gratitude" to the French soldiers engaged in France and around the world.
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The Head of State took the opportunity to recall that it was a fight for freedom led by the armies, whether on land, at sea, under the sea or in the sky, wherever a flag flies. or a French pavilion.
“
I would like to reiterate to you my deep gratitude for the spirit which animates you in the missions which you accomplish.
(...) Be proud, proud of what you do as I am proud of you.
Your families can also be proud
of you, as France is, and rightly so
, ”declares the Head of State in this sequence broadcast on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and via the military intranet.
Emmanuel Macron had canceled, due to the resumption of the Covid-19 epidemic, the trip to the troops.
A trip he had made the previous years of his mandate at Christmas time.
He had planned to visit Gao, Mali this year.
A tribute to the French soldiers killed in 2021
"
I would like to speak directly to you on Christmas Eve, to tell you that my thoughts are with you as, often far from your families and friends, you continue to ensure in France, as everywhere in the world, the defense of our country, of its interests, of its values
”, declares the president, who begins his message with a thought addressed to the French soldiers killed in 2021 and to their families.
Three French soldiers have been killed in action in
the Sahel
this year, bringing the number of them killed in this region since 2013 to 52. A fourth soldier died accidentally in October at
the Timbuktu base
.
“
I think of their families
,” says Emmanuel Macron, “
because tonight the absence is even heavier, more painful.
I would like to pay them solemn tribute once again.
This homage is that of the whole Nation, that of a great country, determined, which engages militarily when necessary, without ever underestimating the cost of this commitment
”.
To our soldiers, sailors and airmen, to you, the Christmas night watchmen engaged in operations to protect us, I wish to send you this message.
My thoughts and those of the Nation are with you.
pic.twitter.com/AFyYFC7xHi
- Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 24, 2021
►
To read: France: the Army budget has experienced a historic increase
(and with
AFP
)
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France
Emmanuel Macron
Defense