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are working jointly with the Foreign AffairsMinistry. We are leaving huge army ready tooperate in the event of global conflict amongthe world powers for building though smallerbut mobile army ready to defense our country,its citizens and their interests behind Slovakia‘sfrontiers. To update a long-term plan knownas 2010 onto the 2015 plan is an inevitablestep in order to comply with this ambition.Our goal is to have fully professional army in2006 in order that the compulsory militaryservice and recruitment of young people wouldoccur to be the past for ever. A new law onprofessional soldiers is under preparationand it is our intent to put in balance socialadvantages of soldiers and their duties andresponsibilities towards our country. We createsuch environment which leads to a personalinitiative and does not tolerate inability and alack of qualifications.It is a tough job in front of us. We‘ve gotambitious plans. It is our wish that jointlywith my counterparts we will handle it andthat we also address the public with a positiveresponse. We want to prove that we are seriouswith the reforms. We do not implement themin order to satisfy our allies only. The reformsare also significant for our citizens. We areimplementing the reforms with the aim to makeArmed Forces of high standard, effectivenessand at lower costs.Excerpt from an Interview with StateSecretary of the Ministry of Defence ofthe Slovak Republic, Martin FedorWord „reform“ is being widely perceivednotably in connection with health system,system of education and social welfare.The fact that a reform is part of the entiresocio-and economic life in our country isbeing recognized the less. Notwithstanding,army is subject to the reform, too.What has been put under reform so farbesides the compulsory military service,notably within a system of army control?The first comprehensive reform of ArmedForces began by adopting the security, defenceand military strategy in 2001. Long-term reformplan covers all the spheres related to forces andoperations‘ planning, personnel management,military exercises, training and education,armament and information systems.Successful transition to fully professionalArmed Forces is the utmost priority outlinednowadays. The law on civil service of professionalarmy which is being under preparation, createslegislative grounds for the reform of a systemof personnel management and defines bothcharacter and spirit of future Slovakia‘s ArmedForces more than any other part of the reform.After the profesionalisation and stabilisation ofmilitary personnel will be completed, we aregoing to allocate more funds to modernisationof armament, weaponry and militaryequipment. Currently, the long-term plans arebeing updated concerning Slovakia‘s entry intothe N.A.T.O. and the European Union. It is ourambition to be a fully reliable member and arespectable player in an international field.System of Armed Forces control correspondsto the principles of both civil control anddemocratic control, common in modern armiesin the N.A.T.O. member countries. We haverevised both constitutional and legislativeframeworks within the scope of which ArmedForces perform. General headquarters becamean integrated part of the Defence Ministry. Wehave reorganised the commands of forces.We are decreasing personnel capacity andfinancial expensiveness of the control. We aresending the officers to schools, taking care oftheir proficiency in foreign languages, castingthe positions within the international structuresand we are implementing the experiencegained by Slovakia from foreign operations.Where do we draw the knowledge fromwhich is the model for our changes?The N.A.T.O. allies are the prior sourceof knowledge and experience related tothe reform of Armed Forces for us. Prior toSlovakia‘s entry into the N.A.T.O., we wereapplying mechanisms of Partnership for Peaceand Action Membership Plan part of which wasa regular assessment within the scope of theN.A.T.O. + the Slovak Republic. Our progresswithin the reforms ongoing was evaluated bythe N.A.T.O. comprehensively; beginning withdemocratisation, defence and military issuesand ending with legislation and protection ofclassified information. We have learned muchfrom our Visegrad Group partners, foreignadvisors and consultants, educational sessionsand training stays of our officers abroad andparticipation in operations of an internationalcrisis management.We are undertaking demanding and painfulreforms which deal with our own interest andwe may benefit a lot from it. We‘ve got aunique opportunity to learn from functioningmodels - a unique responsibility to apply theknowledge within Slovakia‘s reality. Procedureof a defensive planning is a valuable tool howto plan prospectively and how to use efficientlythe available resources. Finally, the reformswill enable us to become a reliable memberof an international community and to defendsufficiently own values and interests at homeand abroad.From the beginning of this year, there isestablished Slovakia‘s Embassy at theN.A.T.O. in Brussels. Can you tell us whatis the background of its establishmentand what is its mission like?Qualified diplomats and competent expertswho perform in Slovakia or in the N.A.T.O.structures are the basis for reliable Slovakia‘smembership in the North-Atlantic Alliance.The Slovak Republic has its representationat the N.A.T.O. since 1994. First, it was theContact Office of the Slovak Republic at theN.A.T.O., lately renamed as the Mission ofthe Slovak Republic at the N.A.T.O. whichwas renamed as the Permanent Delegationof the Slovak Republic at the N.A.T.O. in theday of its entry. The head of the PermanentDelegation of the Slovak Republic at theN.A.T.O., the Ambassador, is the permanentrepresentative of Slovakia in the North-AtlanticAlliance Council. Military power of the Alliancerepresented by military forces of its members,is a strong tool of a foreign policy and all andany operations are under strict supervision ofcivil representatives. Our diplomats both civiland military share in decision-making andplanning of the Alliance accordingly.This June, you entered into negotiationswith Vice-Minister of Defence of theCzech Republic. Can we speak about specificrelations between the two countrieswhich are of common fundamentals ordo we keep the same contacts also withother Visegrad Group countries V4?We may speak about a certain specificaspect. Common history „caused“ at leastthat many officers of Armed Forces in bothcountries know each other in person fromthe past; military research institutes andrepair enterprises worked at joint projectsin the past. This co-operation is partiallyongoing. Notwithstanding, we endeavourto implement a co-operation with theCzech Republic at a rational level of mutualadvantageousness, beneficialness. We makeefforts to be in similar relations with otherV4 countries. Joint performance of Slovakand Polish troops in Iraq and/or Slovaks andHungarians in Cyprus in Sappers battalion isproof of evidence of it.Opposition often speaks about the necessityto withdraw Slovak troops fromIraq. In coalition‘s opinion, there areten reasons to let them operate therefurther. Can you specify the reasons?Being part of multinational forces in Iraq,Slovak troops perform their tasks within theframework of mandate which was adopted bythe National Council of the Slovak Republicdespite the recent complex security situation.They contribute notably to the fulfilment oftasks aimed at increased security of civilinhabitants. Step by step, the internationalforces succeed to meet the fundamentaloperation targets, they succeeded to secureammo dumps which remained open afterthe fall of Hussain regime. Slovak troops tookpart in it. In its resolutions No. 1483 and 1511,the U.N. Security Council challenged all thecountries to help people of Iraq in the effortsto renew the country and to create stabilityand security. Endeavours of Slovak Sapperscontribute to raise the conditions for peacefullife, i.e., renewal of infrastructure, security andfree movement of persons. The sooner Iraq willbe able to and ready to take over responsibilityfor security of the country, the sooner Slovaktroops will be able to withdraw and come backhome. Slovakia‘s interest is to sustain peaceand stability world-wide and to avoid tensionsand crises, keeping in mind that the secureMiddle East means the more secure world. It isour wish that Iraq will be incorporated in afamily of democratic countries, so thus,it will extend an arena for cultural,socio- and economic co-operationwith Slovakia.81SUMMARY