Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Visit the Wounded Soldiers in Afghanistan

On 10 July, The Prime Minister Robert Fico and the Minister of Defence Martin Glváč visited the soldiers who suffered injuries in the tragic incident in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The government special transported the body of the perished soldier to Slovakia. Robert Fico and Martin Glváč visited the soldiers who had suffered grievous injuries and were informed of their health condition. In the camp where the Slovak contingent is based they met with the Slovak soldiers to extend to them their sympathies and encourage them to continue in their mission. The four soldiers who suffered light injuries did not take up an offer to cease their engagement in the operation and they do remain in Kandahar. On the occasion of the final farewell to the deceased member of the force protection unit, hundreds of soldiers from all the contingents serving in the largest NATO base stood to parade on the Kandahar Airfield. The coffin with the body of Sergeant Kavuliak was carried on an armoured vehicle and escorted by his colleagues from the assaulted squad. The mourning ceremony was performed by a Commander of the Force Protection Unit and by a Military Chaplain.

After arrival in Bratislava, a solemn ceremony was held on the Milan Rastislav Štefánik Airport with full military honours, in the presence of the representatives of the Slovak Government, Generals of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic and the surviving members of the family. The Minister Glváč expressed his deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased soldier. Equally, he praised the soldiers for the stance they took up when they decided to stay in Afghanistan and continue in performing their tasks, hence demonstrating courage, heroism and bravery. As he added, the attacks of terrorists who infiltrate the Afghan Army are particularly frequent in the period when responsibility for security is handed over to the Afghan forces.

The Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico stressed the importance of our engagement in the NATO - led coalition operation in Afghanistan. “This incident shall not change the position of the Slovak Government on the fight against terrorism. The Slovak soldiers will maintain their presence in Afghanistan and they are fully aware of the significance of their mission. If a similar incident be enough to deter us and to make us reconsider our engagement in a fight against terrorism, terrorists would win.”