Slovak peacekeepers will not leave Cyprus any time soon, after the Slovak cabinet on Wednesday, August 22 approved a directive for the Slovak delegation at the UN General Assembly instructing it to pledge Slovakia’s continued contribution to the UNFICYP peacekeeping mission.
Slovakia has 159 soldiers on Cyprus and has been part of the UN mission there since 2001, the SITA newswire reported, quoting the directive. The mission aims to prevent a resumption of hostilities between 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 by NATO and the European Union that have a mandate from the UN Security Council, specifically NATO’s ISAF operation in Afghanistan and the EUFOR ALTHEA mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In August, Slovakia had 344 troops in Afghanistan and 45 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. "In its effort to preserve and build peace, Slovakia will focus primarily on supporting the efforts of the international community in Afghanistan," reads the draft directive of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, adding that Slovakia is seeking opportunities to deploy civilian experts in Afghanistan and provide official development aid to the country.
Source: SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
