Gajdos Meets Lopinot, Debate EUTM Mali and NATO Liaison Team

Gajdos Meets Lopinot, Debate EUTM Mali and NATO Liaison Team

Bratislava, May 5 (TASR) – Slovak Defence Minister Peter Gajdos on Thursday met French Ambassador Didier Lopinot, with cooperation between the two countries and presentation of Slovakia’s defence priorities in this electoral term being high up on the agenda, Defence Ministry spokesperson Danka Capakova told TASR.

“Cooperation between Slovakia and France is excellent. In a spirit of solidarity in the wake of the Paris terror attacks in November, our Parliament passed a mandate for a contribution by the Slovak Armed Forces towards the EUTM mission in Mali, despatching two military experts,” said Gajdos.

The Slovak minister also reported about the state of preparations for creating a multi-national NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU) liaison integration team in Slovakia. “I’d like to stress in this regard that Slovakia would welcome France’s participation in the Slovak NFIU,” said Gajdos.

The two also talked about Milan Rastislav Stefanik – a Slovak statesman and military general with vital links to France – whose 97th anniversary of tragic death was commemorated on Wednesday, added Capakova.