We support the Alliance’s joint defence capability development (17 September) Miloš Koterec, State Secretary of the SVK Ministry of Defence, took part in the discussions of NATO’s Research and Technology Board, dubbed FALL 2014 NATO STB, held on 15 – 19 September in Bratislava. “The SVK Ministry of Defence is interested in cooperation in the Alliance’s coherent defence capability development, including research and development support,” he said in his speech. In 2004, when the Slovak Republic joined NATO, it began to coordinate its activities connected with research into the modernization of the SVK Armed Forces’ armaments, equipment and materiel with those of the former Research and Technology Organization, today’s NATO Science and Technology Organization. ● On 19 – 21 September, the SVK Chief of the General Staff participated in the NATO Military Committee Conference in Vilnius, Lithuania. The discussions of the NATO Chiefs of Defence were conducted in the spirit of the recent NATO summit in Wales. The agenda was dominated by military expert deliberations on the outcomes of the Wales summit. The underlying themes discussed were the security developments in light of the Ukraine crisis and the collective defence issues of NATO member states. ● On 21 September, members of the SVK Military Police departed for an international exercise of the NATO Multinational Military Police Battalion (MNMPBAT), designated as Sharp Lynx 2014, which is taking place on 22 – 30 September 2014 at the Březina Military Training Area in the Czech Republic. The main aim of the exercise is to prepare the MNMPBAT staff members for a certification exercise, which will be conducted in Warsaw as part of a training exercise of the NATO Multinational Corps North East (NMC NE), dubbed Exercise Compact Eagle 2015. ● On 17 September, 70 years have passed since the 1st Czechoslovak Air Fighter Regiment ZVOLEN landed onto the fields at the village of Zolná, in the area of a provisionary airstrip. The SVK Air Force marked this event by holding a commemoration, entitled SVK Military Aviation Day, and military ceremonies in all of its subordinated units and components.
Turkey is our partner (19 September) The Slovak Republic and the Republic of Turkey have set out to cul vate defence rela ons. SVK Minister of Defence Mar n Glváč and Turkish Na onal Defence Minister İsmet Yılmaz agreed on that during Glváč’s official visit to Turkey, the first one in fi een years. “We wish to translate our excellent rela ons into actual co-opera on,” said Mar n Glváč. For the training of soldiers, he offered his Turkish partner the Slovak military training areas in Zemianske Kostoľany and Lešť. “We would also like to develop co-opera on in educa on,” he emphasized, meaning that Turkish soldiers could a end courses offered by the Gen. Milan Rasslav Štefánik Armed Forces Academy. The Minister invited his Turkish colleague for an official visit to Slovakia. Turkish Na onal Defence Minister İsmet Yılmaz noted that the visit creates good condions for defence industry co-opera on. Building on this, Mar n Glváč updated him on the planned moderniza on of the SVK Armed Forces and the current moderniza on projects. Minister Glváč also paid a visit to the Turkish company FNSS, the leading manufacturer of tracked and wheeled armoured combat vehicles and weapon systems.
● On 16 September, the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces hosted a farewell reception for the outgoing Hungarian Army and Air Force Attaché of the Republic of Hungary to the Slovak Republic, Col László Hajnik. The First Vice Chief of the SVK General Staff, Lt Gen Peter Gajdoš, thanked him for his co-operation. The incoming Hungarian Defence Attaché – Army and Air Force Attaché Col István Talián – was officially introduced at the reception. ● On 17 – 18 September, the M. R. Štefánik Armed Forces Academy in Liptovský Mikuláš held a seminar on antiaircraft artillerymen in Slovakia, entitled From the Slovak National Uprising (SNU) To Date. According to Jozef Puttera, the AFA´s vice-chancellor for education, the seminar was directed at cadets and military specialists to familiarize themselves with those interesting aspects of the SNU which are only very little discussed. The seminar participants paid their tribute to the memory of the SNU heroes at Donovaly. ● On 16 September, Radatice hosted a commemorative ceremony dedicated to the memory of Polish crewmen who died on 28 December 1944 when their aircraft, in service of the 301st Bomber Squadron RAF, crashed. The SVK MOD’s delegation was led by the Director of the Office of the State Secretary, Vladimír Tarasovič. The commemorative event was also attended by officials from the UK and Polish Embassies. ● On 19 September, Lt Gen Milan Maxim received the outgoing German Defence Attaché, Lt Col Lars Ukerwitz, and the incoming German Defence Attaché, Lt Col Rüdiger Heinrich. The Office of the German Defence Attaché and Lt Col Ukerwitz greatly contributed to the development of cooperation in the field of military education. In recognition of his personal contribution and commitment, Lt Col Ukerwitz received the Commemorative Medal Class III from Lt Gen Maxim.
Minister expresses his condolences (17 September) SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč sent a letter of condolence to Polish Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak, expressing his sympathy for the loss of a Polish serviceman in Afghanistan. “In these extremely difficult moments, allow me to express my sincere condolences and deepest sorrow for the loss of the soldier who died while serving on duty in Afghanistan,” wrote Minister Glváč in a letter to his Polish counterpart. The incident involved a Taliban suicide-bomber staging an attack on an ISAF convoy in the vicinity of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. One Polish soldier died in the explosion and two were injured. Besides the Polish serviceman, another two ISAF soldiers became victims of the attack.
Congratulations to Gen Pavel (20 September) SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč congratulated Gen Petr Pavel, Chief of the General Staff of Armed Forces of the Czech Republic, on his recent appointment as the next Chairman of the NATO Military Committee (NATO MC). Gen Pavel is the first representative of the East European countries to staff such a key position. General Pavel was elected the next Chairman of the NATO MC during the Saturday meeting of NATO Chiefs of Defence (CHODs) in Vilnius, Lithuania. Being the second most important position in NATO’s structure, the post has been held by Danish General Knud Bartels since 2011. Gen Petr Pavel will officially succeed the current Chairman in June 2015.
NATO DAYS in Ostrava (20 September) The Slovak Republic will donate its surplus military materiel to the Czech Republic. This is the outcome of the Inter-Governmental Agreement on the Donation of Military Materiel, which was signed in Ostrava by the State Secretaries of the SVK and Czech MODs – respectively, Miloš Koterec and Daniel Koštoval. In the words of Miloš Koterec, the move is intended to optimize our storage supplies. Ostrava hosted the 14th edition of the largest air force and army show in Central Europe, entitled OSTRAVA NATO DAYS & CZECH AIR FORCE DAYS. At the event, the SVK Air Force staged dynamic demonstrations with a MiG-29 fighter jet and put its L-39CM and MiG-29UBS aircraft and Mi-17 helicopters on static display. To mark this occasion, the State Secretaries of the SVK and CZ MODs, Miloš Koterec and Daniel Koštoval, opened a conference on supersonic aviation.
Our soldiers and allies to act out combat operation scenario directed at territorial integrity protection
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(16 September) In October, soldiers from five countries will train together in Slovakia. As part of Exercise GROUND PEPPER 2014, they will perform the tasks in compliance with Article 5 of the Washington Treaty on NATO Member States’ Collective Defence. The initiator of the exercise was the SVK Minister of Defence, Martin Glváč. “The unplanned exercises which we are organizing this year are an innovation to our Armed Forces. We consider them to be the best way to disclose imperfections and, at the same time, to make improvements. They are a proof of our capability to respond promptly to changes in the defence area, and to fulfill the obligations we have declared – that our soldiers will train more intensely,” remarked Martin Glváč. He reminded that special financial resources were allocated for the exercise from the defence budget. The Military Training Areas Lešť and Kamenica nad Cirochou will host the training of not only Slovak but also Hungarian, Polish and American troops, while
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staff members of Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum will participate in the role of observers. In this regard, the SVK Minister of Defence emphasized the importance of our soldiers training with other NATO soldiers, for that is the only way to coordinate their capabilities and exchange experience. “The summit in Wales proved this point as well. It is important to say that we have things to offer to the Alliance and that our top-ranking training centres allow us to organize the exercise to such an extent,” he noted, adding that Exercise GROUND PEPPER 2014 will bring together servicemen and women from the whole Visegrad Group, which is currently presided by Slovakia. During the exercise, troops will act out a joint combined combat operation scenario aimed at preserving the territorial integrity of a NATO member state. Exercise GROUND PEPPER 2014 has been included in the list of the Alliance´s exercises to test the individual member states’ readiness to contribute to collective defence.
September 15 - 21, 2014