Minister Gajdoš visits military policemen deployed on Operation SOPHIA, he brings a Christmas tree for them
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- Date: 19.12.2017
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As part of his traditional pre-Christmas trip, Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš today visited the SVK Military Police members who have performed duties in support of EUNAVFOR MED Op Sophia in the Mediterranean Sea. He met with the team aboard a German ship, out of which they have been operating for the past almost 5 months. He brought them a Christmas tree, traditional Slovakian Christmas meals and some presents from Slovakia.
“A massive thanks to each military policeman and professional soldier who will be carrying out their demanding duties over this festive period abroad, without their families and close ones. Not everyone may be aware that their work represents our Armed Forces and Slovakia as a whole,” said Head of the SVK MOD, underscoring the complexity of environments they operate in.
Minister Gajdoš appreciated the fact that the SVK Boarding Team has been called on to intervene 17 times. In addition, it has participated in a variety of emergency drills, resupply procedures and training, as well as in a joint exercise with a Spanish warship. “I believe their successful work will be continued with the incoming rotation of the SVK Military Police members to whom we bid farewell last Friday in Vlkanová. We are firmly committed to living up to our pledges,” he emphasised.
The Slovakian delegation was today received by Frigate Captain Christian Schultze, of the German Navy, who fully acknowledged the contribution of the SVK military policemen to the common effort. “The Slovakian team are on equal footing with the rest of the crewmembers and are part of our family,” he stressed.
The SVK Contingent Commander, MSgt Ladislav Kováč, confirmed the complexity of the operations inasmuch as they all are executed at sea. Speaking about the visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operations, he said: “Our team was present during checks of vessels when we received information that was later exploited in dismantling networks of traffickers and in rescuing migrants.”
On the deployment of the SVK Military Police members, the Director of the SVK Military Police Col Michal Migát said: “It was so nice to listen to the words of the Captain of the Ship who was lavish with his praises of our team members. I consider it as appreciation of their preparation and training, which in this particular case took place both at home and aboard a ship in Germany.”
The aim of EUNAVFOR MED Op Sophia is to interrupt illegal human trafficking from African countries to Europe, as the migration crisis continues. Slovakia has been involved in the maritime operation since its historically first rotational troops took on the role of the SVK Boarding Team in August 2017.
“A massive thanks to each military policeman and professional soldier who will be carrying out their demanding duties over this festive period abroad, without their families and close ones. Not everyone may be aware that their work represents our Armed Forces and Slovakia as a whole,” said Head of the SVK MOD, underscoring the complexity of environments they operate in.
Minister Gajdoš appreciated the fact that the SVK Boarding Team has been called on to intervene 17 times. In addition, it has participated in a variety of emergency drills, resupply procedures and training, as well as in a joint exercise with a Spanish warship. “I believe their successful work will be continued with the incoming rotation of the SVK Military Police members to whom we bid farewell last Friday in Vlkanová. We are firmly committed to living up to our pledges,” he emphasised.
The Slovakian delegation was today received by Frigate Captain Christian Schultze, of the German Navy, who fully acknowledged the contribution of the SVK military policemen to the common effort. “The Slovakian team are on equal footing with the rest of the crewmembers and are part of our family,” he stressed.
The SVK Contingent Commander, MSgt Ladislav Kováč, confirmed the complexity of the operations inasmuch as they all are executed at sea. Speaking about the visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operations, he said: “Our team was present during checks of vessels when we received information that was later exploited in dismantling networks of traffickers and in rescuing migrants.”
On the deployment of the SVK Military Police members, the Director of the SVK Military Police Col Michal Migát said: “It was so nice to listen to the words of the Captain of the Ship who was lavish with his praises of our team members. I consider it as appreciation of their preparation and training, which in this particular case took place both at home and aboard a ship in Germany.”
The aim of EUNAVFOR MED Op Sophia is to interrupt illegal human trafficking from African countries to Europe, as the migration crisis continues. Slovakia has been involved in the maritime operation since its historically first rotational troops took on the role of the SVK Boarding Team in August 2017.
