Military police make preparations to ensure performance of tasks connected with Slovakia’s presidency of the EU Council

Within an exercise dubbed Guardian, SVK military policemen together with their Czech colleagues and the SVK Interior Ministry’s Office for Protection of Constitutional Officials and Diplomatic Missions rehearsed joint procedures to be followed when performing VIP protection. They will use the acquired experience during upcoming Slovakia’s presidency of the Council of the EU, as well as in the international crisis management.

“Performance of our Military Police is highly appreciated not only at home, but abroad as well. I am glad we can benefit from the know-how of the Office for Protection of Constitutional Officials and Diplomatic Missions, and harmonize our procedures in such a way, so that we can handle the upcoming presidency on a high level,” said State Secretary of the SVK MOD Marián Saloň.

Speaking about harmonization of joint operational procedures of the separate units, Director of the Military Police Col Milan Hamar said: “The development of the current security situation in the surrounding countries and whole Europe indicates we pay attention to and rehearse the joint operational procedures.” Col Hamar also remarked that, especially over the past year, the SVK Military Police had been equipped with new weapons and vehicles. “This is the first time motorcycles were introduced into the inventory of the SVK Armed Forces, and are likewise earmarked for protection of persons. In a relatively short time, we must arrange a specialized training for drivers, whose final stage will be the so-called ‘school of shear’. Accordingly, it is important to finish the construction of communication and information systems in order to be fully compatible with our foreign partners,” he explained.

At the same time, Col Hamar appreciated that the new SVK MOD’s administration supports the completion of the upgrade of the Military Police. The SVK Military Police cooperates with the SVK Interior Ministry’s Office for Protection of Constitutional Officials and Diplomatic Missions in the long term, namely in the field of police support of the Protocol’s events and VIP protection. To a great extent, mutual cooperation is expected also during Slovakia’s presidency of the Council of the EU. Chief of the SVK General Staff Gen Milan Maxim and Vice President of the Police Corps Gen Ľubomír Ábel also appreciated the excellent course of cooperation. “I consider the fact that our Military Police do not train only on their own, but together with other armed services, as highly positive. The Military Police is therefore well prepared, which we are justly proud of,” noted Gen Maxim. Speaking positively about other joint training activities of soldiers and policemen, Gen Ábel added: “We do welcome these kinds of exercises.”