BRATISLAVA, September 29, (WEBNOVINY) — Slovak soldiers will withdraw from Kosovo. At present, 140 members of the Slovak Armed Forces are deployed in the KFOR mission in Kosovo. The costs of their withdrawal will reach EUR 1.5 million. The material that the Cabinet approved on Wednesday states that as the result of a change of tasks and structure of the KFOR mission with the objective to achieve a state of deterrent presence, and also taking into consideration the priorities of the Defense Ministry in future operation in crisis management operations outside Slovakia, the Slovak troops should terminate their mission in KFOR by December 31, 2010. The troops are scheduled to complete their operating tasks by the end of September.
Slovak troops have been active in KFOR since September 7, 1999. From 2001, a mechanized company of 100 soldiers has been serving in Kosovo within a joint Czech and Slovak battalion. Prime Minister Iveta Radicova visited Slovak troops in Kosovo on Monday of this week.
As the Western Balkans is one of Slovakia’s priorities in foreign and security policy, Slovak troops will continue their operation in the ALTHEA mission in BiH.
Slovakia plans to strengthen its mission in Afghanistan.
SITA
