Celebrating NATO entry anniversary even with new logo (April 14) The Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic commemorates this year’s 10th anniversary of Slovakia’s entry into NATO with a new logo. It is based on the colors and symbolism of NATO, with the dominant feature of the logo being the numeral 10. The four-pointed star in the circle forming the numeral “0” is a reference to the NATO organization. A circle itself represents a symbol of unity, security and protection. Placing the national emblem in the centre emphasizes the fact that, with its entry into NATO, Slovakia had integrated itself into the heart of a politico-security community, becoming its part and parcel. The fundamental principles of NATO such as joint decision-making or collective defence are captured in the word play of the slogan “SPOLOČNE NATO MÁME”, meaning, firstly, “WE SHARE NATO TOGETHER”, and secondly, “WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER”, which completes the graphical part of the logo. The logo was prepared by the Marketing Section of the SVK MOD's Communications Division to mark the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Slovakia’s entry into NATO. ● In accordance with conclusions on allocating the Alliance’s quotas and coordinating the informal group of friends of Ukraine at the OSCE (GFUA), with the aim to ensure, along with the special monitoring mission (MM) of the OSCE, the other form of (military) presence of the OSCE on the territory of Ukraine, the Slovak Republic will make an evaluation visit to Ukraine, in compliance with the provisions of the Vienna Document 2011 on confidence and security-building measures in Europe. Notification with a requirement to make such evaluation visit was sent on 14 April, defining the focus of the visit, which is the 11th detached airborne brigade Cernobajevka and the date of the visit, which is 23 – 25 April 2014. The visiting inspectors from Austria and the Czech Republic will take part in the evaluation visit.
Stabilization is priority
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(April 15) The European Union Foreign Affairs Council held a mee ng at the level of Defence Ministers on 15 April in Luxembourg. The main topic of the discussions was the situa on in Ukraine and its influence on the further direc on of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy. “The crisis in Ukraine has clearly revealed the necessity to re-evaluate our approach to our neighbourhood security,” said SVK MOD State Secretary Miloš Koterec. Together with NATO Secretary General A. F. Rasmussen, par cipants discussed the possibili es of the interna onal community’s common efforts to reduce tensions and stabilize the security situa on in the country, while at the same me crea ng condi ons for a mul lateral dialogue. “Coopera on with NATO is even more important at present, when we face a serious security situa on at the borders of the European Union, which does not have sufficiently coordinated defence capabili es,” stated SVK Defence Minister Mar n Glváč. In this regard, the Council approved the Foreign Affairs Ministers’ decision on the support of Ukraine’s security sector, police and judicial capabili es in the form of a civil mission. Among other topics discussed at the mee ng was the current situa on in the Central African Republic with regard to the new EU military opera on – EUFOR RCA, which has, since April, been providing support in securing a safe environment in the country. The Council was also briefed on the prepara on of the EU Mari me Security Strategy, which should contribute to the protec on of EU mari me interests. Furthermore, the Council evaluated the current state of implementa on of the European Council’s conclusions, made at the December 2013 mee ng, where this year’s discussions on the poli cal framework for long-term systema c defence coopera on between EU Member States started. “We consider it necessary that the performance of the EU's defence tasks, which were set by the highest representa ves of EU Member States in December last year, be evaluated regularly and on every occasion,” said SVK MOD State Secretary Miloš Koterec. “Our aim is to significantly strengthen defence coopera on within the EU as soon as possible,” he added.
● In compliance with the provisions of the Vienna Document 2011 on confidence and security-building measures in Europe, the Russian Federation is about to make an evaluation visit to the territory of the SR. The Russian Federation made a requirement to make the visit on 16 April through a notification format sent via communication channels of the OSCE. The focus of the visit will be on the 1st mechanized brigade Topoľčany. The Russian evaluation team will arrive in the Slovak territory on 23 April, with the departure planned on 25 April.
Disposal of WW II ammunition
(April 15) On Monday, 14 April, a 38-year-old man informed the police in Holíč of his discovery of ammunition in a forest cover in the vicinity of the village Kopčany. The patrol verified the situation and a police explosive ordnance disposal expert was called on the site. The police found 11 pcs of artillery ammunition adjusted to airdropped bombs, to include four pcs of AO 24 bomb and seven pcs of Russian fragmentation avia bomb FAB 50m9 used in WW II, without a fuse, the amount of an explosive being approximately 200 kg. The whole action took several hours and the police managed to transport the unexploded munitions weighing 0.5 ton to the military area Kuchyňa. With the assistance provided by the explosive ordnance disposal team from the SVK Ministry of Defence, the ammunition was successfully disposed of on Tuesday afternoon, 15 April.
● On 10-11 and 14-15 April, refresher training was held in the Training Centre of Military Police and Cynology Vlkanová – Hronsek, which was aimed at a target group of drivers of vehicles with right of way. Twenty six military fire-fighters from military units 5728 Lešť, Trenčín, Nováky, Poprad, Sklené and Rašov underwent the training. The participants renewed their driving license entitlement for vehicles equipped with special warning systems to include lights and sirens. ● Commander of the 5th Special Forces Regiment has announced selection of professional soldiers to join the 5th Special Forces Regiment. The selection will take form of intensive training of the unit to be held on 2 - 13 June 2014 on the premises of the 5th Special Forces Regiment, Rajecká cesta 18, Žilina. Duration of the selection procedure is not dependent on the type of the position offered. ● On 16 April, a meeting of experts charged with the task of preventing criminality at headquarters, units and installations of the SVK Armed Forces was held in the Garrison Club Trenčín. The main focus of the meeting was on evaluation of criminality in the defence department, on a report on the tasks performance in the field of crime prevention, on a situation in the field of public security and transportation security and on protection of installations and facilities in 2013. The participants heard lectures on theory of crime prevention and on the issue of subsidy frauds occurring in the defence department.
ALTHEA training
(April 16) Specialized training of our contribution declared to ALTHEA operation started in the 22nd mechanized battalion. The unit was activated short before the start of the training, on 14 – 15 April. After a rehearsal of declaring a state of readiness, the activities of the unit were monitored and controlled by the monitoring and control group of the Commander of SVK Land Forces, headed by Col Milan Mezovský, Deputy Chief of Staff of SVK Land Forces. Within 2 days, the commission carried out a detailed check of the activities, personnel, materiel and documentation of the declared contribution, as required for its activation in the case of its deployment to the area of operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The commission concluded that the verified units of the 2nd mechanized brigade are ready for activation. The specialized training of the declared troops will be completed by a tactical exercise to be held on 29 – 30 April in the training facilities of the Prešov-based mechanized brigade.
June rotation ready for deployment to ISAF
(April 17) ISAF-bound members successfully completed their training in combat shooting as part of a tactical exercise, dubbed DESERT GUARDIANS 2014, which was held from 7 to 17
eBULLETIN MoD SR
April at the Lešť Military Training Area. The 300strong Slovak contingent, deploying on operations abroad in June, comprises staff from the SLOVCON HQ, the National Support Element (NSE) and the Mobile Strike Force Security Forces Advisory Team (MSF SFAT). SLOVCON members have concluded a several month process of preparations and trainings. 1st Mechanized Brigade Deputy Commander Col Zoltán Iboš, the future commander of SLOVCON, stated that the purpose of the whole pre-deployment process was to prepare and train the unit for performance of tasks, in the most effective and high quality manner and to a full and maximum extent, so that the contingent may be engaged in all possible scenarios.
April 14 - 20, 2014