Spain successfully passes the assessment of the 2011 Vienna Document

•  The delegates, representing 24 OSCE countries, expressed their complete satisfaction with the three-part event: the visit to Gando Air Base, the visit to the 16th “Canarias” Brigade, and the presentation of the “Castor” combat sappers vehicle

España ha superado la evaluación del Evento del Documento de Viena 2011, Evento DV11, que se ha celebrado esta semana en Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Spain has passed the evaluation of the Vienna Document Event 2011, DV11 Event, which took place this week in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

The participating delegates, representing 24 countries from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), expressed their complete satisfaction with the three-part event: the visit to Gando Air Base, the visit to the 16th ‘Canarias’ Brigade, and the presentation of the ‘Castor’ combat sappers vehicle (VCZ).

At the Gando air base, they attended the take-off of F18 fighter jets and a maritime rescue and salvage demonstration. They also attended a static display of F18 fighter jets, the Delta 4 maritime surveillance aircraft, and Super Puma helicopters.

During the tour of the 16th “Canarias” Brigade, they were shown her capabilities in the fight against improvised explosive devices (C-IED) and carried out flight practises with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The delegates also saw the canine team in action and learned about the capabilities and resources of the Air Defence Unit of the 94th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (RAAA 94). Subsequently, a precision shooting exercise was carried out.

The third milestone was the presentation of the VCZ Castor, as the Vienna Document stipulates that the organising State must demonstrate a new type of weapon system and equipment to representatives of other countries after having begun deployment. The Castor is a multi-mission vehicle whose units have been fully incorporated into the Spanish Armed Forces over the last year. It is 100% Spanish in design and manufacture.

The DV11 Event was organised by the Spanish Verification Unit (UVE). Its head, Colonel Carlos Armada, highlighted the delegates' outstanding assessment of the capabilities, resources and facilities they had learnt, as well as the excellent work of the military personnel who had participated in the various events. Finally, he emphasised the warm welcome they had received in the Canary Islands.

‘DV11 Event’

The 2011 Vienna Document Event, ‘VD11 Event’, is organised by the Spanish Verification Unit (UVE). Representatives from 24 countries of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) are attending.

The main activities of this event, which is being held this week in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, are a visit to Gando Air Base today and a visit to the 16th “Canarias” Brigade tomorrow.

Every five years, each OSCE nation that signed the 2011 Vienna Document Treaty (DV11) organises an event of this kind on its territory. This is the first time it has been held in the Canary Islands, and the islands' top military authorities are in attendance.

Specifically, the countries participating in “Event DV11” are Albania, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. In addition, a representative from the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre is also present.

This initiative fulfils one of the commitments adopted through the Vienna Document 2011 (VD11), which was signed by 57 OSCE member states and stipulates that participants must organise, at least once every five years, a VD11 event consisting of a visit to an air base and a military facility. These activities are intended to promote confidence- and security-building measures in Europe.