M. Glváč: The events in Paris may be called Europe’s 9/11
(14 November) Minister of Defence Martin Glváč sent a letter of condolence to the Minister of Defence of the French Republic. “It was with deepest sorrow that I received the shocking news of the unprecedented and cowardly terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday 13 November 2015, which claimed over 100 innocent lives and a large number of injured. In these, for the French Republic, difficult moments, on behalf of my colleagues and on my own behalf allow me to convey my deepest condolences to the next of kin of the victims of these monstrous attacks. I cherish the French people in my thoughts and hereby express my solidarity to them. I absolutely condemn such terrorist attacks and remain convinced they will be fully investigated and their perpetrators will be brought to justice,” wrote Martin Glváč in his letter of condolence. Prime Minister Robert Fico and the Minister of Defence condemned the terrorist attacks in France. On SVK MOD premises, the Prime Minister was updated on the actual security developments in Slovakia by the National Security Analytical Centre in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. “Based on the information, we are weighing next steps. They may effected by the Security Council, which I have convened. Slovakia with all its capabilities, especially in the field of intelligence, is ready to aid France in investigating this heinous crime,” said Robert Fico. “Yesterday’s events in Paris may be called Europe’s 9/11. Since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis we have responded to all that is required for the defence capability and security of the Slovak Republic and our citizens. At the Security Council, we are going to come up with a set of measures in coordination with our Analytical Centre,” added Martin Glváč. In this respect, he went on to highlight the importance of V4 cooperation. The Prime Minister also informed of the preventive measures that have been put in place: the monitoring of refugee reception centres, including that of the refugee camp in Gabčíkovo, and increased security measures at sport and cultural events, as well as stepping up the security of facilities of exceptional importance and the protection of representative offices throughout the Slovak Republic. ● On 10 November, Col Milan Hamar, Director of the Military Police, awarded the Military Police Medal (in Bronze), Grade III, to Col S. Kučera, Director of the Police Corps Regional Directorate Považská Bystrica, and Col R. Pelech, Deputy Director of the Police Corps Regional Directorate Trenčín, for their contribution to developing cooperation with the Military Police. ● The commanding NCO of Bratislava Garrison Headquarters, SSgt Gabriel Zelei, concluded his active duty service with the Slovak Armed Forces on 11 November. Col Ján Marek thanked him for his exemplary performance of duties and presented him with a remembrance badge. ● Members of the airbase in Sliač carried out land-based search and rescue (LSAR) drills on 9 November, with the aim of testing the readiness of the Tactical Wing forces and assets assigned to an LSAR shift under daytime winter conditions. The officer in command of the drills, Lt Col Martin Kuterka, Deputy Commander of the Tactical Wing, evaluated the activity of the exercising troops as a mission well accomplished. ● Members of the Recruitment Group Prešov, SVK Armed Forces Personnel Office, visited two grammar schools in Humenné on 12 November to meet with students and brief them on the conditions for the professional soldiers’ state service in accordance with the latest [Professional Soldiers’ State Service] Act and on the options to study at the SVK Armed Forces Academy in Liptovský Mikuláš. The soon-to -be secondary school graduates were mainly interested in information on the cadets’ social welfare and pay. ● Fight for Freedom and Democracy Day was marked on 13 November by members of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces during a remembrance ceremony, where the Order of the President of the Slovak Republic was read. The General Staff members remembered the strength and courage of those who stood up against oppression. The audience was also addressed by Chief of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces Lt Gen Milan Maxim.
Remembrance Day
(11 November) At the cemetery in Petržalka – Kopčany, where 331 soldiers of several nationalities are buried, a memorial ceremony was held on 11 November, which is observed in the world as the Remembrance Day, to mark the anniversary of the end of World War I. „In the times, when security environment is rapidly changing, we more than ever realize that we cannot take peace for granted. Its value is incalculable and hard to describe. We owe a debt of esteem and gratitude to all those who had fought for peace in conflicts as well as to those who contribute to safeguarding peace to-date,” said Minister of Defence Martin Glváč. Red poppies, which hold valuable symbolism for war veterans, were distributed by the soldiers in the streets of Bratislava, Liptovský Mikuláš, Košice and Nitra, along with the leaflets containing information on the origin of the red poppy as a modern-day symbol of remembrance. After the solemn ceremony at the military cemetery in Kopčany, Chairman of the Slovak National Council Peter Pellegrini started off a run of war veterans. In the run took part soldiers, sportsmen from the Military Sport Centre Dukla Banská Bystrica, led by Matej Tóth, the world champion in the men’s 50 km race walk, as well as students. Warrant officer I Marek Mockovčiak from Ružomberok snatched victory in the men’s 5.5 km race, when he finished first, just before Matej Tóth, who narrowly failed to win. „It was quite difficult to run in a full kit and with a gun, but I have managed,” said delighted winner of the women’s race 1st Degree Private Lucia Vlčáková, student at the Armed Forces Academy.
Act on Security of State
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(12 November) The National Council (NC) of the Slovak Republic passed the Constitutional Draft Bill on the Security of the State in a Time of War, State of War, State of Belligerency and State of Emergency. Equally, the NC endorsed the Act on voluntary military preparation and training and authorized formation of the NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU) on the territory of the Slovak Republic, as well as the deployment of the SVK troops to NFIUs abroad. By virtue of passing the next piece of legislation on voluntary military preparation and training it will be possible to engage 150 persons in the pilot scheme. “Those who undergo voluntary military preparation and training will form active reserves in the armed forces or other security forces,” explained Minister Glváč.
● Members of the Slovak Contingent (SLOVCON) in UNFICYP marked Veterans’ Day by participating in a joint Remembrance Day event on 9 November. The remembrance ceremony was held at the military cemetery in Nicosia and was attended by Lisa Buttenheim, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), and Maj Gen Kristin Lund, UNFICYP Force Commander, as well as by other guests. They gathered to pay respects to the memory of the 186 soldiers who had died while serving with UNFICYP. ● A tactical exercise, dubbed West, featuring the deployment and activation of a radar system was held on the training grounds at Kolíňanský Vrch. Members of the [Radar Surveillance] Battalion Zvolen companies, deployed in the western part of Slovakia, arranged into a company task force group. Prior to performing assigned tasks, they redeployed the radar system from Hlohovec via Nitra to Kolíňanský Vrch. After taking up a new position, they practised sending radar data while applying fully automatic and non-automatic modes. The aim of the exercise – to strengthen the radar field at the western state border – was successfully accomplished. ● Over 650 trainees are currently participating in training at the Training Battalion Martin. Of them, 190 are soldier trainees undergoing basic military training. Training is also underway in career progression courses and Military Occupational Specialities (MOS) courses at the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy. Also, Sučany Training Area is hosting intensive training of drivers as part of the Tracked Vehicle Driver Course.
We are faced with same threats (13 November) The Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, Gen Ljubiša Diković, paid a visit to the Slovak Republic at the invitation of Lt Gen Milan Maxim. He was also received by the State Secretary of the SVK Ministry of Defence, M. Koterec, who gave his assessment of bilateral cooperation and expressed support for the Republic of Serbia in its EU integration process. The delegations of both General Staffs discussed actual security challenges and cooperation between the Slovak and Serbian Armed Forces. As part of the visit, the Serbian guests received a tour of the NATO Explosive Ordnance Disposal Centre of Excellence (EOD COE) in Trenčín and expressed their interest in developing cooperation in this area as well.
Fully fledged NATO members (11 November) At the invitation of Chief of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces Lt Gen Milan Maxim, General Denis Mercier, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT), paid a visit to the Slovak Republic for the first time since assuming his duties of SACT. During the meeting, Gen Mercier and Lt Gen Maxim agreed on the need to transform NATO on the grounds of the current security threats at NATO’s borders. Also discussed was Slovakia’s contribution to the Smart Defence concept and the successful certification of the NATO Explosive Ordnance Disposal Centre of Excellence (EOD COE) in Trenčín. The new challenges of the transformation process include establishing the NATO Force Integration Units (NFIUs) in 8 NATO countries and developing the NATO Very High Joint Readiness Task Force (VJTF).
Special Forces Certification (12 November) State Secretary of SVK MOD Miloš Koterec received the Commander of NATO Special Operations Forces Headquarters Lt Gen Marshall Bradley Webb, who made his first visit to the Slovak Republic based on invitation by SVK CHOD Lt Gen Milan Maxim. The pivotal topic of the meeting was the presentation of the SVK Armed Forces capabilities, with a focus on special operations. The 5th Special Forces Regiment based in Žilina undergoes the process of national certification based on NATO standards. Lt Gen Webb, who participates, along with the other officials from the Special Operations Forces headquarters, in the certification exercise Salamander 2015, was at the General Staff introduced to the structure and capabilities of the SVK Armed Forces, mainly in respect of the special forces.
Exercise Balaton 2015 (10 November) The SVK soldiers made it through their first days of the exercise Balaton 2015 in Káposvár, Hungary. The members of the combat service support brigade Trenčín and 1st mechanized brigade Topoľčany provide logistic support. They are ready to repair the allied wheeled equipment and provide potable water if needed. The international exercise Balaton 2015 was initiated by the Hungarian armed forces in response to the current migration crisis. The exercise is aimed at achieving the unity of procedure among the V4 armed forces should a need for the actual military deployment arise. The SVK troops will take part in the exercise in Hungary until the mid December.
Slovak troops participate in the largest joint V4 exercise (9 November) The largest joint V4 exercise dubbed COMMON CHALLENGE 2015, which started on 14 November and should finish on 20 November, is being held in Poland, with nearly 3,000 troops taking part in the exercise. At the same time, it is the certification exercise of the V4 EU Battle Group, which is supposed to be on stand-by in the first half of 2016. On 14 – 17 November, the tactical exercise is scheduled to be held at the command post in Krakow. The practical part is to be held on 18 – 20 November in the training area Drawsko Pomorskie. “The exercise will put to the test preparedness of the V4 EU Battle Group to meet the tasks following from joint deployment, which tasks the Group should be ready to perform from January next year. The V4
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troops tested joint procedures during the exercise Slovak Shield, which was organized this year, and currently they take part in the exercise Balaton, which is held in response to the migration crisis. I do believe that certification will be no problem,” said SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč. As for Slovakia, 233 professional soldiers and three military policemen will take part in the exercise. They will rehearse the tasks to be performed by the mechanized company within the multinational task force, as well as the activities of the SVK representation at the HQs of the Battle Group. As for the equipment, Slovakia’s contribution will be mainly made up of the infantry fighting vehicles. The supreme national representative of the SVK Armed Forces at the exercise will be Col Zoltán Iboš from SVK Land Forces HQ. 21st combined mechanized battalion earmarked for the V4 EU BG the 2nd mechanized company, logistic support platoon and personnel to operate at the dressing station. The declared units successfully accomplished the tasks of preparation and training in June, hence completing the national certification process.
November 9 - 15, 2015