BRATISLAVA, August 22, (WEBNOVINY) – Slovak peacekeepers are not about to leave Cyprus any time soon, as Slovakia will continue to contribute to the UNFICYP peacekeeping mission of the United Nations. This is according to proposed procedure of the Slovak delegation at the UN General Assembly, which the Cabinet approved on Wednesday. Slovakia has 159 soldiers on this Mediterranean island and has been part of the UN mission there since 2001. The mission aims to prevent a resumption of hostilities between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots, to ensure that the ceasefire between the parties is respected, and help to restore and maintain law and order on the island.
Slovakia will also support operations of NATO and the EU that have a mandate of the UN Security Council (NATO ISAF in Afghanistan, EUFOR ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina). In August, Slovakia had 344 troops in Afghanistan and in Bosnia and Herzegovina there are 45. „In its effort to preserve and build peace, the Slovak Republic will focus primarily on supporting the efforts of the international community in Afghanistan,“ says the draft of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, adding that Slovakia seek opportunities for deployment of civilian experts in Afghanistan and providing official development aid to this country.
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