Change in NATO
(March 28) Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic and Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic welcome appointment of the new NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (see picture), a former Prime Minister of Norway. Based on the resolution of the North Atlantic Council, he will replace the present Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in this position, which he will hold for the next four years, as from 1 October this year. The personal and professional qualities of J. Stoltenberg are a guarantee of a strong and effective Transatlantic Alliance. ● On 25 March, students of political science, international relations and security studies from Serbia, winners of the competition in writing essays on a new security arrangement in Serbia in the future, visited the Ministry of Defence of the SR. The competition, which was organized by the Slovak Atlantic Commission, was held at Serbian universities. The visit was made with respect to the role of Slovakia as the Contact NATO Embassy in Serbia, which role we undertook to perform. ● Climbing simulator Jacob Climbing has been put in operation this year. The climbing season opened up with an instructing methodological workshop aimed at practicing and broadening knowledge of instructors and mentors in the field of military practical climbing. Members of the Levice based battalion focused mainly on technical condition of the climbing wall, which needs to be put in operation after winter.
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(March 29) The Slovak Republic became a member of the North Atlan c Alliance (NATO) on 29 March 2004. Slovakia's integra on into NATO was, together with its entry into the European Union and the OECD, among the strategic foreign policy priori es of the Slovak Republic since its establishment. “We consider our entry into the North Atlan c Alliance as one of the key historic milestones of our young state. Slovakia is and will remain, even in the future, a reliable NATO partner, one duly discharging its obliga ons,” said Miroslav Lajčák, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign and EU Affairs Minister, in his statement to mark the 10th anniversary of the country's entry into NATO. He went on to say that NATO membership provided op mum external condi ons for Slovakia's further comprehensive development and that NATO con nues to be the main guarantor of its security. Thus, Slovakia anchored itself in a community of most developed countries that share the common values of democracy, an individual's rights and freedoms, and the rule of law. “With its entry into the North Atlan c Alliance, the Slovak Republic became a member of an elite community which has, for the past 10 years, ensured the highest guarantee – the assurance to assist us in case our country is militarily a acked. We conclude, unanimously, that our membership in NATO has strengthened our security. This par cularly creates the prerequisites for investment and a more prosperous society as a whole,” said SVK Defence Minister Mar n Glváč. Also, our membership has decisively impacted on the changing characteris cs of the SVK Armed Forces. “Our fully professional Armed Forces cons tute a significant element in domes c crisis management and are an equal ally in respect of their engagement in interna onal crisis management opera ons. Thousands of Slovak service personnel have so far been opera onally commi ed abroad and our foreign partners highly appreciate their work,” emphasized the head of the SVK MOD. Since its entry into NATO the Slovak Republic has sought not only to capitalize on the benefits that NATO membership brings with itself but also to contribute to delivering security in favour of all NATO members. Towards this end, we have par cipated in NATO's poli cal discussions and decision-making, common defence planning processes, and NATO-led interna onal crisis management missions and operaons. Even today the Slovak Republic is ac vely involved in all of NATO's decisive processes, whether that be the a empts to find an op mum response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine or the prepara ons for this September's NATO Summit in Wales. The Slovak Republic is illustra ve of the success of NATO's open-door policy and an advocate for furthering NATO´s con nuity.
Agreement with Georgia
(March 27) Minister of Defence of the Slovak Republic Martin Glváč and Minister of Defence of the Republic of Georgia Irakli Alasania concurred on the need for closer defence cooperation between the both countries. They confirmed their determination to seek greater cooperation by signing a bilateral agreement on cooperation. “This agreement establishes a framework for further tangible projects. We can offer Georgia a possibility to take part in training involving chemical agents in our Chemical, Biological and Radiological Defence Centre in Zemianske Kostoľany and in the EOD Centre of Excellence. We would equally welcome participation of the Georgian troops in the courses run at the Armed Forces Academy in Liptovský Mikuláš,” said Minister Glváč.
Ambassador’s audience
(March 25) Minister of Defence Martin Glváč received in audience Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Richard van Rijssen. At their meeting, they discussed the issues of mutual cooperation and addressed also the current situation in Ukraine. The Minister offered the Netherlands a possibility for the troops to train in the Military Training Area Lešť. Where we see much room for cooperation is training of the special forces,” said Glváč at the meeting. In the past, the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic operated under the command of the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in ISAF, Afghanistan, in the province of Uruzgan.
● On 24 March, a workshop was held in the premises of the Supply Base Supply Class 5 Martin on monitoring the technical readiness index. Among those attending the workshop were operational officers from the Supply Base Supply Class 5 Martin and from the subordinated ammunition stores, responsible for management of and control over the eleven technical workplaces. At the same time, inspection was carried out as to relevance and conformity of the equipment pertinent to calculating the technical readiness index at the individual technical workplaces. Equally, a practical demonstration was given of a process of entering data in PRETECH application and in PM IIS SAP module. ● On Wednesday, 26 March, skills of professional soldiers from the Land Forces Command HQ were put to test at the garrison training area Lipovník, to include their command and organizational skills with respect to the firing practice and their basic combat skills. More than seventy professional soldiers underwent drill aimed at mastering and perfecting the pistol shooting techniques. Equally, they had to master the basic topographical skills and the basic skills in the field of medical preparation and specialized physical fitness preparation. ● On 25 March, members of the Recruit Group Prešov of the Personnel Office of the SVK Armed Forces visited the Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family in Prešov to introduce a career of a professional soldier and to give a briefing on a general aptitude and abilities a candidate must display. The briefing was followed by an animated discussion, in which the potential candidates were given information on detailed conditions of the state service of a professional soldier in the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic. ● On 28 March, a graduation ceremony of the graduates of the Non-Commissioned Officers Course OR-5 was held in the 1st Non-Commissioned Officers Club of the SVK Armed Forces’ Training Battalion Martin. On 10 February, 27 candidates enrolled on the course, and 22 soldiers (3 out of which were women), who had successfully passed the initial test aimed at combined arms preparation as well as the physical performance test, were given an opportunity to continue their training. Cpl Tomáš Ružička from military unit 2370 Martin was awarded as the best graduate of the Non-Commissioned Officers Course OR-5. The Course graduates have all the qualifications required for their respective positions in the SVK Armed Forces and meet the criteria for being promoted to the first non-commissioned rank of Sergeant.
Homecoming from Cyprus
(March 28) A homecoming ceremony for members of the SVK Armed Forces returning from UNFICYP was held on the premises of the Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade in Nitra on 27 March. 2nd Deputy Chief of Defence Maj. Gen. Pavel Macko and Cypriot Ambassador to Slovakia Marios Kountourides expressed their appreciation for the high quality and uneasy work of the soldiers who had just concluded their 12-month tour of duty in Cyprus. In recognition of their high quality performance of duties, a total of 84 service personnel were awarded the “Service Medal for Peacekeeping Observer Missions”.
TEPSO in session
(March 28) The 24th meeting of the Training and Education For Peace Support Operations NATO Training Group Task Group (TEPSO NTG TG), attended by participants from 18 NATO Member States and Partner countries, took place from 24 to 28 March in Bratislava. The SVK Armed Forces were represented by Lt Col Ladislav Kisel and Maj Peter Chlebko, both members of the Military Ops Training Unit operating under the Training Battalion, Training and Support Forces. Mandated by the Executive Working Group NATO Training Group (EWG NTG), the main task of the working group was to design training modules for C-IED, protection of civilian persons, and gender affairs.
Cooperation between SVK AF and Indiana National Guard (March 24) Exchanges of opinions on current issues of bilateral cooperation between the SVK Armed Forces and the Indiana National Guard as well as appreciation for the help and support that has been demonstrated over the past 20 years of the existing partnership were at the top of the agenda during a working meeting between SVK CHOD Lt Gen Peter Vojtek and Adjutant General of the Indiana National Guard Maj Gen Martin R. Umbarger in Bratislava. The official programme of Maj Gen Umbarger in Slovakia includes a visit to the Central Military Hospital and the Mobile Communication Systems Base in Ružomberok, and the SVK Armed Forces Academy in Liptovský Mikuláš. Maj Gen Umbarger will take time to visit LAND FORCES HQ in Trenčín and NATO EOD COE specializing in recognition, identification and disposal of IEDs.
eBULLETIN MoD SR
March 24 - 30, 2014