The Vessel Protection Detachment to protect vulnerable ships from Somali pirates off the Horn of Africa cemented the Armed Forces of Malta’s resolve to effectively contribute to peace and security but also its relationship with the Dutch military, said AFM Commander Brigadier Martin Xuereb.

He was speaking yesterday morning at the Medal Award Ceremony following the second Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) as part of the EU mission Atalanta, on board the HNLMS Zuiderkruis berthed at Pinto Wharf 4 and 5.

The first such mission involving Maltese soldiers was launched in April last year on board the Johann De Witt.

Participants, who returned to Malta on Saturday, were awarded the Commemorative Medal Peace Operations from Dutch Minister of Defence Hans Hillen for their service during joint operations conducted with Dutch forces.

During this tour, the AFM soldiers (three from Maritime Squadron’s Rapid Deployment Team, and the remainder from the 1st regiment’s ‘C’ Special Duties company) conducted operations providing protection to World Food Programme (WFP) vessels that were delivering essential food aid to the people of Somalia.

The Dutch Navy’s vessel HNLMS Zuiderkruis, on which the Maltese soldiers served, is a fast resupply support ship on its last deployment after 36 years of service.

The AFM’s VPD on board also acted as deterrence and repression against acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea.

Operation Atalanta acts in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions, and provides protection against pirate action groups to vulnerable vessels sailing in the Red Sea. This mission is important to the protection of world trade and commerce as well as ensuring the safe delivery of food aid to the people of Somalia.

Major Nicholas Cassar led the Maltese VPD 2011 team, which had also previously been deployed overseas for the first time on a trip to Libya’s Tripoli harbour onboard AFM patrol vessel P61, as a force protection element.

Brigadier Xuereb referred to the famous J. F. Kennedy quote he used earlier this year, whilst addressing new members of the AFM, advising our young men and women to “ask not what their country could do for them but what they could do for their country.

“In front of me today I have a group of officers and men who unsolicited and enthusiastically have taken heed of these words and have walked the talk or in this case should I say, sailed the talk,” he said.

Participation in overseas crisis management operations has now become an integral part of what the Armed Forces of Malta does. It considers such participation as another opportunity that consolidates our resolve to be “a force for good and a force for peace: A force that counterweights youth with enthusiasm and one which sees opportunities in every challenge”.

He noted that as he was speaking, AFM members were serving Malta in Libya, Uganda, Georgia, Belgium, Poland and the UK.

Today we are celebrating the return of others that have been serving in the Indian Ocean, Brigadier Xuereb said.

He described this as a great achievement particularly when one considers it has been attained over a short period of time. More importantly however, it is an achievement that has come to fruition thanks to officers and men who like those who stand before me have chosen to serve our county beyond our shores, he emphasised.

He described the strong relationship with the Dutch navy as: “One that works. One that is pragmatic. One that is also based on the realisation that whilst we have a lot to learn from the experience and the professionalism of others larger than us, our contribution can be effective”.

While thanking those who contributed for the mission’s success, he recognised the efforts of the 1st Regiment and Maritime Squadron for providing troops required and their unwavering endeavour to prepare the soldiers that were honoured yesterday.

He also highlighted that Commander de Groot and his team had made our men feel at home, part of his family.

In his address, the Parliamentary Secretary within the Office of the Prime Minister, Chris Said, congratulated the mission’s participants, including the 12 AFM personnel who formed part of the second Vessel Protection Detachment. The soldiers were deployed on the Dutch Military vessel Zuiderkruis for the past six weeks and were yesterday the recipients of a Dutch medal for their participation and conduct in this operation.

“This medal is an honour, not only for these men or for the Armed Forces of Malta, but for the entire country,” Dr Said noted.

He went on to point out that Malta has participated in the EU mission Atalanta since it was launched in 2008 by attaching an AFM officer to the Intelligence Cell at the Operational Headquarters in Northwood, UK. This contribution has continued ever since and was then augmented in 2010 by a deployment of the AFM’s first Vessel Protection Detachment in support of this EU mission.

For this second deployment, the Armed Forces of Malta made available 12 highly-rained personnel, who participated on a voluntary basis, and who form part of the AFM’s ‘C’ Special Duties Company – the AFM’s Quick Reaction Force, for high risk operations, both internally and as part of the European Union.

Keeping in mind the Maltese significant ship registry, he explained this particular mission is of particular significance as it emphasises the importance that Malta attaches to the principle of free and unencumbered access to sea lines. Malta also welcomes the important contribution that the EU can give to maritime security and to deal with the modern scourge of piracy.

Adding to what had been expressed, Dr Said expressed pride regarding the Armed Forces of Malta’s participation in a related operation, namely the EU Training Mission Somalia.

For the third time since 2010, the AFM has three of its members from the 1st Regiment deployed on a six-month tour of duty in Uganda to train Somali security sector personnel while contributing to the strengthening of the Somali government, he said. In the meantime an AFM officer was seconded to the Mission Headquarters in Kampala, Uganda.

“The great efforts made at the Dutch and Maltese ministry and military levels have shown their results during the past year, making this deployment happen and subsequently sustaining the deployment with a view to bringing it to a successful conclusion, as can be verified today,” Dr Said stated.

He added that all AFM officers and soldiers must continue to render their services to the nation in the most professional way.

While congratulating all those who are in any way leading others by their example, he stressed that their work and dedication are central to us and to the government. Moreover, Maltese people are grateful and proud to have such a professional and committed armed force.