Minister in Cyprus
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- Date: 23.06.2016
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SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš paid a visit to members of the Slovak Contingent (SLOVCON) serving with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). This has been his first visit to the SVK Armed Forces personnel deployed on this international crisis management mission since assuming office as the Minister of Defence of the Slovak Republic. He also used this occasion to hold talks with the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Christoforos Fokaides. On his trip to Cyprus, Minister Gajdoš was accompanied by the 2nd Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces, Brig Gen Jindřich Joch.
Reflecting on the visit, Peter Gajdoš said: “I consider the visit to our soldiers as my duty and an expression of my appreciation for their work. In Cyprus, they work in demanding climatic conditions and are separated from their relatives. Despite this, they carry out their tasks responsibly and their work stands a testament to them as real professionals.” He went on to confirm that the SVK Armed Forces units are committed to continuing to serve with UNFICYP under the umbrella of the United Nations.
Speaking with the SVK service personnel based at the UNFICYP Headquarters and Camp Tatry, located in the UNPA in Nicosia, and those at Camp General Štefánik in Famagusta, the head of the SVK MOD listened to the soldiers’ demands and remarks on how to improve the working conditions there. As his ministerial gift, the Minister presented the service personnel with soccer jerseys: “Just recently you made me extremely happy by winning the Military Skills Competition. I hope that this time I will make you happy as much as I hope that at the upcoming soccer tournament you will represent us in new soccer jerseys, so that everyone can see you come from our beautiful Slovakia.”
In meeting with his Cypriot counterpart, Minister Gajdoš addressed the current topics of relevance and possibilities of cooperation, the NATO Warsaw Summit, and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union. “The Republic of Cyprus held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2012. At the time I held the appointment of Military Representative of the Slovak Republic to the NATO Military Committee in Brussels, and I can say you accomplished your tasks with honour,” said the Minister. The Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus highly appreciated the long-term presence of Slovak soldiers in Cyprus.
As part of his visit to Cyprus, Peter Gajdoš also met with the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Cyprus and Head of Mission of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, Mrs Elizabeth Spehar, and the UNFICYP Force Commander, Major General Kristin Lund.
Reflecting on the visit, Peter Gajdoš said: “I consider the visit to our soldiers as my duty and an expression of my appreciation for their work. In Cyprus, they work in demanding climatic conditions and are separated from their relatives. Despite this, they carry out their tasks responsibly and their work stands a testament to them as real professionals.” He went on to confirm that the SVK Armed Forces units are committed to continuing to serve with UNFICYP under the umbrella of the United Nations.
Speaking with the SVK service personnel based at the UNFICYP Headquarters and Camp Tatry, located in the UNPA in Nicosia, and those at Camp General Štefánik in Famagusta, the head of the SVK MOD listened to the soldiers’ demands and remarks on how to improve the working conditions there. As his ministerial gift, the Minister presented the service personnel with soccer jerseys: “Just recently you made me extremely happy by winning the Military Skills Competition. I hope that this time I will make you happy as much as I hope that at the upcoming soccer tournament you will represent us in new soccer jerseys, so that everyone can see you come from our beautiful Slovakia.”
In meeting with his Cypriot counterpart, Minister Gajdoš addressed the current topics of relevance and possibilities of cooperation, the NATO Warsaw Summit, and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union. “The Republic of Cyprus held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2012. At the time I held the appointment of Military Representative of the Slovak Republic to the NATO Military Committee in Brussels, and I can say you accomplished your tasks with honour,” said the Minister. The Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus highly appreciated the long-term presence of Slovak soldiers in Cyprus.
As part of his visit to Cyprus, Peter Gajdoš also met with the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Cyprus and Head of Mission of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, Mrs Elizabeth Spehar, and the UNFICYP Force Commander, Major General Kristin Lund.
