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Galko Says Soldiers Deserve Greater Public Support
Thursday 26 August 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, August 26 (TASR) - Defence Minister Lubomir Galko on Thursday argued in favour of Slovakia's military, the credibility of which has suffered over scandals involving financial and operational mismanagement within the defence sector in the last four years, saying that the Armed Forces deserve greater public support.
To blame for the scandals, he says, is the former leadership of the defence ministry instead of soldiers. "I realise that many negatives which occurred under the previous government have disgusted soldiers and they had great difficulty in preserving their pride about their profession," according to Galko.
In the run-up to the 66th anniversary of the August 29th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP), Galko's spokesman Richard Sumeghy spoke to TASR. He said the ministry's new leadership is doing its utmost to do Slovak soldiers proud about being members of the military and to feel that their work makes sense. Its aim is to boost citizens' confidence in the defence sector by keeping citizens informed about the tasks and needs of the military.
People are fully entitled to know how public funds are used. The defence ministry's budget has so far been a kind of treasury for the previous government to be used to take money from when other ministries lacked funds because of their profligate spending. "This was even bordering on jeopardising Slovakia's combat readiness," Galko cautions.
Galko further states that the public can be proud of its soldiers because they have acted as true professionals – despite the lack of funding – and performed the basic mission of the military. "They should be proud that the soldiers carry out their commitments to NATO and the EU," he says.
He added that money much needed for equipment and weapons has been squandered in overpriced tender competitions. He also alluded to a soldier who had to serve in an observation tower in Afghanistan while being rained on for hours in life-threatening conditions. Meanwhile, he had not been provided with rain-proof clothing as other militaries in Afghanistan had.
Pursuant to its Manifesto, Government will promote national and military traditions boosting patriotism and will pay due attention to war veterans. "It would be a mistake to treat as heroes only soldiers who laid down their lives for their home country. Our soldiers are already heroes during training and in pursuing their missions abroad," according to Galko, adding that they should be treated as heroes after their return to Slovakia from such missions. He also highlighted the important role military personnel play in helping people in Slovakia cope with fires and floods.
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