Press Advisories

12. 11. 201216:02

Prime Minister: We will honour our military obligations in NATO

Despite the austerity budget, defence expenditure will not fall below one per cent relative to GDP, Prime Minister Petr Nečas told NATO Secretary General Anders F. Rasmussen.

“We will be able to fulfil all the obligations that we have as members of NATO,” he said the Czech Prime Minister after today’s joint meeting. The Czech Republic will not reduce spending on defence in its budget in the coming years.

“I know that I can rely on the support of the Czech Republic,” said Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, adding that security challenges would not decrease in the difficult economic situation.

The Czech Republic is prepared to stay in Afghanistan

The Czech Prime Minister and Secretary General Rasmussen also discussed the future of Czech soldiers in Afghanistan at their meeting in Prague. “We have very high quality and large military contingent, including the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Logar, which over the next year will be making the transition into a military advisory team,” said Prime Minister Petr Nečas. “Your soldiers make an important contribution to stability in Afghanistan,” said the NATO Secretary General in praise of the Czech troops deployed in NATO operations.

The Czech Prime Minister highlighted the broad political consensus on the phase-out of Czech troops from the area. “Ultimately, we are prepared to stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014,” he added. In particular, he mentioned an advisory role in the training of the Afghan security and armed forces.

The Czech Republic participates in a number of multinational projects

Anders Fogh Rasmussen also delivered a positive assessment of the Czech Republic’s activities in the field of multinational cooperation. “The Czech Republic contributes significantly to the expansion of NATO capabilities through multinational cooperation,” he said. The Czech Republic is involved in seven Smart Defence projects. Priority areas for the Czechs are helicopters, logistics and chemical units. “At regional level, we are keen to develop this concept,” said the Czech Prime Minister.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen came to the Czech Republic for the annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, which has been hosted by the Czech Republic since Friday 9 November. Approximately 300 legislators from all NATO member countries gathered at the Prague Congress Centre. The assembly’s main topics included the situation in Afghanistan and Syria, as well as the euro area and Russia. Members also discussed the future of NATO, and issues of partnership and the enlargement of the Alliance.