Meeting with SVK President
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- Date: 12.04.2016
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SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš introduced the SVK MOD Programme Priorities for 2016-2020 to SVK President Andrej Kiska. At the meeting, the Commander-in-Chief of the SVK Armed Forces and the Minister of Defence agreed that defence and security are areas of interest that require attention on a day-to-day basis. “The provision of defence and security is the fundamental task of the State,” emphasised the SVK President. He appreciated that the head of the SVK MOD is someone who has full knowledge of the subject matter, bearing in mind that at the time of his appointment as Minister of Defence he had completed over 41 years of service in the SVK Armed Forces.
“I was pleased I could introduce the SVK MOD Programme Priorities to the SVK President,” said Minister Gajdoš. He emphasised that he would strive for broader society-wide and political agreement in the strategic issues of developing the defence of the State, and in drafting and adopting desirable legislative acts. “We are going to prepare a new defence strategy and to participate in the drafting of a new Security Strategy of the Slovak Republic under the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic,” he noted.
“In the international arena, the basic mission of the SVK MOD is to pursue the pro-European and pro-transatlantic policy direction. We are a NATO member state and we are committed to meeting our obligations. Of course, as part of promoting regional cooperation, the Visegrad 4 (V4) continues to be a priority,” emphasised Minister Gajdoš.
Another priority the head of Defence wants to advance is a qualitative improvement in the readiness of the SVK Armed Forces Reserve Component. “We could use voluntary military training as a key tool for generating the Reserve Component. We believe this project will appeal to young people to a sufficient degree and, combined with other activities, it will play a role in enhancing the awareness of patriotism and home defence among our citizens,” he said. At the same time, he reminded that the provision of defence is not only a duty, but also an honour for every citizen of Slovakia. Additionally, the MOD is planning to continue its modernisation process. “In doing so, we will proceed transparently, with maximal effectiveness in using financial resources,” emphasised the Minister.
As SVK President Andrej Kiska remarked, it is important that the advancement of plans and the SVK Armed Forces’ modernisation be concept-based, transparent and understandable. The President and the Minister of Defence also discussed international commitments. “In July, we are going to the NATO Warsaw Summit. Therefore, I have requested the Minister of Defence to initiate a thorough audit of our defence commitments vis-à-vis our Allies and to step up communications with the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, so that we know the exact status of affairs and start preparing what we come up with at the Warsaw Summit,” said the Commander-in-Chief of the SVK Armed Forces.
“I was pleased I could introduce the SVK MOD Programme Priorities to the SVK President,” said Minister Gajdoš. He emphasised that he would strive for broader society-wide and political agreement in the strategic issues of developing the defence of the State, and in drafting and adopting desirable legislative acts. “We are going to prepare a new defence strategy and to participate in the drafting of a new Security Strategy of the Slovak Republic under the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic,” he noted.
“In the international arena, the basic mission of the SVK MOD is to pursue the pro-European and pro-transatlantic policy direction. We are a NATO member state and we are committed to meeting our obligations. Of course, as part of promoting regional cooperation, the Visegrad 4 (V4) continues to be a priority,” emphasised Minister Gajdoš.
Another priority the head of Defence wants to advance is a qualitative improvement in the readiness of the SVK Armed Forces Reserve Component. “We could use voluntary military training as a key tool for generating the Reserve Component. We believe this project will appeal to young people to a sufficient degree and, combined with other activities, it will play a role in enhancing the awareness of patriotism and home defence among our citizens,” he said. At the same time, he reminded that the provision of defence is not only a duty, but also an honour for every citizen of Slovakia. Additionally, the MOD is planning to continue its modernisation process. “In doing so, we will proceed transparently, with maximal effectiveness in using financial resources,” emphasised the Minister.
As SVK President Andrej Kiska remarked, it is important that the advancement of plans and the SVK Armed Forces’ modernisation be concept-based, transparent and understandable. The President and the Minister of Defence also discussed international commitments. “In July, we are going to the NATO Warsaw Summit. Therefore, I have requested the Minister of Defence to initiate a thorough audit of our defence commitments vis-à-vis our Allies and to step up communications with the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, so that we know the exact status of affairs and start preparing what we come up with at the Warsaw Summit,” said the Commander-in-Chief of the SVK Armed Forces.
