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Baska and Gates Find Common Language in Security Policy Issues
Thursday 18 March 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Washington, March 18 (TASR) - Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Baska, ending his ten-day visit to the United States on Thursday, met his U.S. counterpart Robert Gates to discuss such issues as military co-operation in Afghanistan and the transformation of NATO in response to current security challenges.
Baska noted that his country views the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan as the most important international crisis-management operation. Slovakia, according to him, is meeting its international commitments by increasing the number of its ISAF troops.
Other topics were the formation of a joint unit including troops of the Slovak military and the National Guard of the state of Indiana, which will be aimed at helping to train Afghanistan's security forces and training Slovak soldiers in disarming improvised explosive devices. Co-operation in Explosive Ordnance Disposal continues.
In addition, the two touched on strategic issues regarding NATO's future and saw eye-to-eye on the need to improve and streamline decision-making in the Atlantic Alliance.
Gates expressed gratitude for the engagement of Slovak servicemen and women in international operations and the Slovak Defence Ministry's efforts to reform its structures and comply with international commitments.
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