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Baska Discusses Joint US-Slovak Military Unit With Indiana Governor
Friday 12 March 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava/Indianapolis, March 12 (TASR) - Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Baska and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels have agreed that a joint Slovak-American military unit will take part in the training of the Afghan national army, TASR learned from Defence Ministry spokesman Vladimir Gemela on Friday.
At their meeting held in Indianapolis the day before, the two politicians appreciated the long-term and continual development of relations between Indiana and Slovakia, based on co-operation between the Slovak Armed Forces and National Guard of Indiana state. They also discussed the global economy crisis and its impact on defence budgets.
The Defence Minister along with Chief of General Staff of Slovak Armed Forces Lubomir Bulik and Slovak Ambassador to the U.S. Peter Burian paid a visit to Indiana's National Guard headquarters.
"Nobody wants the NATO forces to stay in Afghanistan forever. This policy represents a way how to reinforce the army of Afghanistan, while gradually handing the security control over the country to Afghans," said Baska.
He also added that Slovakia plans to strengthen its participation in the ISAF Operation to 400 persons in 2010-2011.
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