Anti-terrorist measures behind schedule

Some of the anti-terrorist measures due to be implemented by the Slovak Armed Forces have not been performed on schedule this year due to a lack of financial resources, according to a Slovak Armed Forces report outlining terrorism measures for the next two years.
The army was supposed to have 800 professional soldiers at the ready for the potential needs of the Police Corps as part of the measures. In order to comply with the plan, the Slovak Armed Forces planned to recruit 500 additional soldiers this year and 300 in 2017. However, only 636 individuals this year - of whom 538 were enlisted for the needs of the military - due to a shortfall in the defence ministry budget.
A new Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance battalion is to be involved in anti-terrorist operations. Currently undergoing training and preparations, the battalion will be ready for action in late 2017. Technical equipment for surveillance and reconnaissance work was supposed to be procured by the end of this year, but this deadline hasn't been met due to the lack of finances. The ministry plans to procure the technical equipment and start training specialists within the next two years.