First steps taken by Peter Gajdoš

Peter Gajdoš started his first day in his capacity as new Minister of Defence by attending the morning briefing at the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces, introducing the new State Secretary of the SVK MOD Marián Sadloň on this occasion.

After introduction he was informed of the current situation and, together with the State Secretary, CHOD Gen Milan Maxim and other representatives of the Defence Department and the Armed Forces, the Minister of Defence had a telephone communication with commanders operating in the missions abroad, with the purpose to be informed of the current security situation. On this occasion, the Head of the Defence Department extended his best wishes for Easter to the troops. He communicated with the commanders of the Resolute Support operation in Afghanistan, EUFOR ALTHEA operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, UNFICYP mission in Cyprus and the observer mission UNTSO in Israel and Syria, and for the first time he had a telephone communication with the mission commander in Mali. He evinced interest in how the force protection and personal security of the troops is ensured and enquired about what he could possibly do for them.

All the commanders concurred that currently they perceive no significant problems in the operations. The newly appointed Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš declared his ambition to intensively communicate with the troops serving abroad also in the future.