P. Gajdoš: Our contribution to Iraq is highly valued by NATO, our Allies will refund almost 80 per cent of our costs

The Slovak contribution to Iraq is highly valued by our Allies, which is reflected in the decision of several Allied countries to refund the costs associated with the SVK deployment to Iraq to the SVK MOD.

On SVK training efforts in Iraq, SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš said: “I consider our role in stabilising Iraq and building the Iraqi Security Forces as our contribution to global security. At the same time, there is good news for Slovak citizens, because our Allies will refund almost 80 per cent of our costs. This success has been achieved as part of our meetings and is the result of the concentrated, purposeful and systematic work of the Permanent Delegation of the Slovak Republic to NATO and the MOD. Moreover, by involving our Allies in the project, we have managed to make our national project multinational in the spirit of cooperation by NATO countries.” He stressed that the MOD will save 820,000 euros to Slovak tax payers.
 

The announced Allied financial contributions to the SVK MOD will be as follows: €500,000 (Germany), €200,000 (Netherlands), €100,000 (Luxembourg), and €20,000 (Croatia). “Of course, the support of other countries is still open,” added the MiOD. The stabilisation of Iraq was one of the main themes on the agenda of todayʼs meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels. SVK personnel have been involved in building the Iraqi Security Forces as part of their second rotation. “Only a few days ago we sent another rotation of troops to Iraq. Their mission is to train the Iraqi Security Forces in the field of demining. While working closely with Poland, in the coming days we are also planning to supplement our contribution by incorporating our specialists for maintenance and repairs of Soviet-era military equipment,” said SVK MiOD Peter Gajdoš, while confirming that Slovakia will continue with this assistance in line with the SVK Parliament-approved mandate.

 
NATO Defence Ministers today discussed the strengthening of collective defence and wished to see it subject to wider discussion beyond the defence departments in NATO countries. “I am convinced that the result of our meeting will be a strong message that the Alliance is stronger and better prepared to face all challenges and threats of conventional and non-conventional nature, regardless of the direction they come from – be it from the East or the South,” remarked Head of the SVK MOD.