Michal Martikán Proves to be as Good as Gold (24 August) The Minister of Defence Martin Glváč telephoned to congratulate Michal Martikán, the sportsman from the Military Sports Centre Dukla Banská Bystrica, who won the C1 category in Canoe Slalom World Cup race in Čunovo. ‘Michal Martikán proved that despite his one year long break, he is in excellent condition, and that he belongs to the world sport elite. His accomplishment is also an accomplishment both of the Military Sports Centre Dukla Banská Bystrica, as it is of the entire Slovakia,’ stated the Head of the Defence Department. Michal Martikán has been part of the Military Sports Centre Dukla Banská Bystrica since 1994. He is twice Olympic champion (1996 and 2008). He has got 2 silver medals from the Olympic Games held in 2000 and 2004, and one Bronze medal from 2012. He is a several times World and European champion.
SNP is a Source of Pride (24 August) The Defence Minister Martin Glváč partici-
pated in the commemorative celebrations of the 69th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP). ‘The Educative partisan march Zlatno - Skýcov’ is traditionally part of the celebrations which was celebrated for the 25th time in the area of Nitra region. ‛The Slovak National Uprising has become a continuous source of pride and patriotism for next generations. It has significantly contributed to a fair status of Slovakia in the restored Czechoslovak Republic, and therefore each memory of these days of remembrance has an important meaning,’ stated the Minister of Defence of the SR Martin Glváč. The founder of this march General Lieutenant in retirement Ján Husák, who celebrated his 90th birthday this year, took part in the event. Active partisan units were placed in the villages of Skýcov and Zlatno. The inhabitants of Skýcov and Zlatno, as well as the inhabitants of other villages devotedly helped the partisans in the forests. Due to this help the village of Skýcov became the target for Nazis when on 16 March 1945 the SS units burned the village.
Slovak forests were on fire again. Mi-17 helicopters with Bambi Buckets from the Helicopter Wing in Prešov also helped to extinguish mountain pine fire in Pachoľa hill in the district of Liptovský Mikuláš. The Firefighting and Rescue Corps requested the military assistance due to a difficult accessibility of the terrain. The tactical training exercise known as Road transport of aviation fuels to designated facilities of the Armed Forces with the aim to practice the AF of the SR units’ capabilities in transportation of aviation fuels reserving technology, and allocating staff take place from 5 August to 4 October. The exercise is supposed to enhance the selected officials’ skills in managing the fulfillment of tasks of the domestic crisis management, and practice the units’ mentioned capabilities in the transportation of hazardous substances. The transportation is scheduled until October 2013, and in spite of the fact that other strategic tasks are being carried out, the Transport Battalion is able to manage, and coordinate all the given tasks. The Chief of the Staff of the UNFICYP operation Lieutenant Angus Loudon visited members of selected ranks of the Sector 4 on 20 August 2013. He was welcomed by the Commander LtCol Adolf Uličný together with other members of the sector. After having visited the mine field, the Chief of the Staff moved on to the CP-10 and participated in the inspection of the position of the UNPOLU and FMPU members. At the end of his visit, the Chief of the Staff expressed his utmost satisfaction with the fulfillment of the tasks carried out by the Slovak soldiers in the UNFICYP operation. He particularly underlined the participation of the Slovak soldiers when ensuring special tasks.
Remembering 21 August 1968 (21 August) On 21 August on Šafárikovo square in Bratislava, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic Lieutenant General Peter Vojtek paid tribute to the victims of the invasion of the Warsaw pact troops occurred on 21 August 1968. The commemoration was organized by the Confederation of Political Prisoners of Slovakia. The Defence Minister Martin Glváč together with the MEP Monika Flašíková- Beňová also paid tribute to the victims at the Memorial plaque in the afternoon. ‘I am very saddened about all the lives which were taken away in this occurrence. Such action is condemnable no matter when, and in which country it happened,’ said the Defence Minister of the SR Martin Glváč. The members of the President's Guard of Honor of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, and the Military music band Bratislava ensured the dignity of the pious act. The Ambassador of the Czech Republic Jakub Karfík, the members of the National Council of the SR, of the Comenius University were among those who placed wreaths to the Memorial plaque dedicated to the victims of 21 August 1968, which can be found on the wall of the Faculty of Law of the Comenius University in Bratislava.
Physical and psychological fitness of the professionals was tested at the 18th annual International military ascent of Kriváň held on 24 August. Military professionals from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and also the USA took part in the event. Before the ascent, the participants paid tribute to the victims of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) at the Šrbské pleso lakeside. The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic Lieutenant General Peter Vojtek remembered the message, and the importance of the SNP for the military professionals nowadays. More than thousand participants got involved in the ascent of Kriváň.
The Armed Forces at the Air Fest (SIAF) 2013 Celebrations on Jankov vŕšok
www.mosr.sk/ebulletin/
(24 August) The Defense Minister of the SR Martin Glváč together with the Prime Minister of the SR Róbert Fico commemorated the SNP on Jankov vŕšok. According to the Prime Minister, Jankov vŕšok represents the willingness of Slovak youths, men and women sacrifice their lives for freedom. 'I know, the heroes depart, however, as you see the tradition stays unchanged. The Slovak people know, and understand that the SNP tradition cannot be taken away from them,' the Prime Minister of the SR Róbert Fico emphasized in his speech. He acknowledged the fact that new associations of the military history are coming into being, where mainly young people take the opportunity to interpret the historic happenings. The Defense Minister acknowledged that there are more and more visitors who come to these kinds of events which commemorate the SNP. 'Today I took part at the openings of the Educative partisan march Zlatno – Skýcov, and there have been lot of young people with families. I believe that this is also a way to remember the past occurrences, which are great milestones from the point of view of the Slovak history,' Minister of Defence of the SR Martin Glváč emphasized.
(23 August) The participants of the International Air Fest SIAF 2013, which opens its doors on 31 August and 1 September at the Sliač airbase, will be able to see not only the Air show but also the ground equipment of our Armed Forces. ‘We would like to bring about the military equipment which our soldiers train with to the general public’, stated the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic Lieutenant General Peter Vojtek. According to Vojtek, SIAF 2013 is the occasion to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Armed Forces of the SR with the public. The visitors of the Air Fest will be able to see the remote control equipment, and the S-300 PMU radio locator antiaircraft missile system, PPLRK 9K38 IGLA portable anti-aircraft missile system with ASV ASTRA PVO machine-controlled system, BMP-2 armoured infantry fighting vehicle, the newest Land Rover Defender military vehicles and the Božena 4 mine clearing vehicle. ‘The demonstra-
eBULLETIN MoD SR
tion of small hand arms, and of the equipment of our mechanized units including the supporting modular system, and demonstration of training of the troops in self-defense will definitely attract the visitors. Military enthusiasts will be certainly pleased to see the demonstration of a special pyrotechnic suit used by our specialists for the disposal of explosive devices in Afghanistan, ‘Vojtek stated. The Slovak pilots will carry out solo performance of MiG-29 supersonic flights, and of L-39 Albatros subsonic jet-trainer. The MI-17 MI-LPZS helicopters crews and MI-17 M will demonstrate rescue work in Sliač. Static display will include the MI -2 helicopter and the L410 UVP E20 transport aircraft. For the first time, the Air Fest will have its own radio station at the frequency of 107,3 MHz, and will broadcast the latest news as well as some reports, and interviews from the event related to the 20th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic.
August 19 - 25, 2013