We are ready to make Lešť available

The Slovak Republic is ready to make Lešť available for training of NATO member states. Defence Minister Martin Glváč informed of this his ministerial colleagues at the meeting in Brussels. “Our contribution is also Lešť AFB, which is permanently available for collective defence tasks, as well as our infrastructure, logistics and education capacities as well as other training facilities,” he said. The Ministers negotiated with the Russian Minister of Defence Mikhail Koval. “He clarified his opinion on the actual situation and appreciated the positions of individual countries,” said Minister Glváč. He reminded of the humanitarian aid for Slovakia as well as of the deployment of OSCE observers and provision of reverse gas flow. “The position of all states remains the same: we reject the forceful annexation of Crimea to Russia,” emphasized the Minister. The ministers also focused on defence budgets. The Alliance is appealing on the investment of 2 per cent GDP on defence as well as on allotting 20 per cent from allotted budgets on modernization and armaments. “We are taking this direction and over the past two years we have doubled the volume of funds on modernization,” concluded Minister of Defence Martin Glváč.