Slovak soldiers return from foreign missions

Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš (SNS) on Friday welcomed home twenty professional soldiers who have returned from international operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Afghanistan. "I am proud of hearing from NATO and EU partners that our soldiers are consistent in solving the demanding tasks of the missions and operations," said the Minister. Deputy Chief of Staff Miroslav Kocian pointed out the operation EUFOR-ALTHEA where, out of 600 armed forces of different nationalities, 43 soldiers are Slovaks operating in 3 locations. The commander of the EUFOR-ALTHEA contingent Daniel Draganovský continued, adding that there are 3 contact teams of the Slovak Armed Forces in Bosnia and Hercegovina. The Defence Minister explained that there were 275 professional Slovak soldiers participating in missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia and Hercegovina, the Middle East and Georgia. "152 Slovak professionals are taking part in tasks securing the NATO mission in Latvia," said Gajdoš.