BRATISLAVA, April 21, (WEBNOVINY) — Captain Maros Gonos is the first Slovak soldier to join the EU humanitarian operation, the goal of which is to help Libyan refugees and humanitarian activities for the country affected by an armed rebellion reminiscent of a civil war. Slovakia sent Gonos to a base near Roma, Italy, on the basis of a request by the commander of the operation from April 10. “Since this operation was launched, we have said that we fully support the actions to restore order in the country, where a crazy dictator lets his own people be slaughtered,” stated Slovak Defense Minister Lubomir Galko.
Gonos is responsible for the human resources aspect of the mission. “Our armed forces member will in fact send invitations and on the basis of inviting fill out a database of command structures and participate at the planning process,” explained Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic Jaroslav Vyvlek. Gonos will not enter Libyan territory, he will only work at the Italian base. “This is a contribution to the humanitarian, not to the military mission,” underlined Galko. He did not rule out that the NATO headquarters, which is responsible for military operations in maintaining the no-flight zone and protecting civilians in Libya might also ask for some Slovak soldiers.
Captain Gonos will participate in the mission for four months. In the case that the operation will continue, he will be replaced by another soldier then. Minister Galko already informed both Prime Minister Radicova and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikulas Dzurinda on the deployment of the Slovak officer.
SITA