Minister Gajdoš meeting with Polish Ambassador Leszek Soczewica
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- Date: 11.06.2018
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The cooperation between Slovakia and Poland in the field of defence has been at a very good level in the long term, be it at the bilateral level or as part of international organizations and groups. Both countries want to see their mutual relationship go from strength to strength. This view was shared by Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš and the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Slovakia, HE Mr Leszek Soczewica, who visited the MOD today (11 June) at the end of his Diplomatic Service appointment. In addition to discussing bilateral cooperation, topics of discussion included potential areas of cooperation, modernization, and joint deployments on international crisis management missions and operations.
SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš said: “I want to underscore the significance of continuity for our defence cooperation not only as part of the V4 Group but also within NATO and the EU. The coordinated positions and steps of the Visegrad Group countries are a means for achieving a common goal of building and sustaining peace and stability, especially at a time when Europe is faced with a number challenges.” He went on to express his appreciation for Polish military medals being awarded to SVK personnel for their outstanding performance with the NATO Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan and EUFOR ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On regional cooperation, Minister Gajdoš informed Ambassador Soczewica about the priorities of the SVK V4 Presidency, which Slovakia will take over from Hungary in July 2018. As he said, Slovakia will support the stand-up of the EU V4 BG, to be on stand-by in the second half of 2019. He stressed that the V4 Cross Border Operations (V4 CBO) Agreement is among the priorities of V4 security and defence.
Also discussed was the deepening of EU defence cooperation via the PESCO initiative, with the SVK-led PESCO Indirect Fire Support – EuroArtillery project being implemented in Phase 1 of all PESCO projects.
SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš said: “I want to underscore the significance of continuity for our defence cooperation not only as part of the V4 Group but also within NATO and the EU. The coordinated positions and steps of the Visegrad Group countries are a means for achieving a common goal of building and sustaining peace and stability, especially at a time when Europe is faced with a number challenges.” He went on to express his appreciation for Polish military medals being awarded to SVK personnel for their outstanding performance with the NATO Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan and EUFOR ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On regional cooperation, Minister Gajdoš informed Ambassador Soczewica about the priorities of the SVK V4 Presidency, which Slovakia will take over from Hungary in July 2018. As he said, Slovakia will support the stand-up of the EU V4 BG, to be on stand-by in the second half of 2019. He stressed that the V4 Cross Border Operations (V4 CBO) Agreement is among the priorities of V4 security and defence.
Also discussed was the deepening of EU defence cooperation via the PESCO initiative, with the SVK-led PESCO Indirect Fire Support – EuroArtillery project being implemented in Phase 1 of all PESCO projects.
