Slovakia to Send Experts to Mali

At an extraordinary session on Friday, Cabinet approved the dispatch of members of the Slovak Armed Forces to the EUTM Mali training mission. Slovakia will make five highly skilled military experts available for a period of six months. Defence Minister Martin Glváč perceives this step as a show of solidarity with France and European values. The exact conditions under which the experts will be sent will be discussed with France. Following the terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13, France announced that it was activating Article 42.7 of the Treaty on the European Union, which involves support from allies if a country is attacked. Slovakia has been approached to join EU and UN missions in sensitive regions of the world. A total of 23 countries are participating in EUTM Mali, and the mandate is valid until June 30, 2016. Slovakia hadn't taken part until now.