BRATISLAVA, April 10, (WEBNOVINY) — Newly appointed Defense Minister Martin Glvac (SMER-SD) met with the top brass of the Slovak armed forces and called on generals to try to find opportunities for cost saving within the armed forces. „Slovakia needs a stable military and savings should not affect its quality and performance. Certainly, there will also be legislative changes concerning the conditions of service of professional soldiers, but soldiers need to have certainty when they risk their lives for their country,“ said Minister Glvac at a meeting with Slovak generals. Spokesman of the Armed Forces of Milan Vanga told SITA news agency that the minister was in particular interested in the possibility of finding additional financial resources for effective functioning of the armed forces. „I see space for obtaining resources for example in improved transparency of the structure of the Ministry of Defense, but also in the use of EU funds,“ said Glvac at his first meeting with complete command of the armed forces. Alongside commanders of ground forces, air force, training and support forces, the Chief of Staff, General Peter Vojtek informed the minister about the state of the armed forces, their mission, responsibilities, and capabilities. In addition to commanders of the operational commands, the meeting was also attended by chiefs of staffs of the General Staff of the armed forces, chief petty officer, and director of the Office of Chief Medical Officer of the armed forces.
With regard to the almost completely stopped modernization of the armed forces, which was one of the themes of the meeting with the armed forces command, the minister said it is important to procure commodities, which soldiers actually need. „Selection committees must have a larger military presence. This is logical and professionally necessary,“ said Glvac. „I got confidence from the prime minister as a manager. This means that I will try to manage the processes in the department so that the soldiers have what they need to fulfill their mission. Money must therefore go to specific things, such as replacement of weaponry and improved quality of training,“ he said. All processes must be transparent to the maximum extent. He said these are fundamental matters that he would also consult with the president. „My communication with the commander-in-chief of the armed forces will be much more intensive than it was in the past,“ said Glvac. With regard to transparency of selection procedures in defense procurement, Glvac said he wants to initiate a meeting with local representatives of Transparency International soon to agree on rules for public information on public tenders. „Taxpayers have a right to know how we handle public finances,“ he said.
SITA