Government to discuss Slovak military abroad

Slovakia's military representation abroad should undergo changes that will be required by a reorganisation of forces within NATO, according to a proposal discussed by the Government on Wednesday. The changes should not affect the number of Slovak Armed Forces personnel stationed outside Slovakia. The Cabinet also dealt with another proposal tabled by the Defence Ministry - to extend the scope of activity of the multinational sapper battalion. The unit was created as an instrument of regional cooperation, based on an agreement between the governments of Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine in 2002, initially to intervene and assists local populations in the event of natural disasters in the Tisa River basin. The current proposal is that the battalion should also operate in the Danube River basin.