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Slovak parliamentary committee approves deployment of soldiers to Mali

Xinhua, December 1, 2015 Adjust font size:

France's request for the deployment of up to five members of the Slovak Armed Forces to the European Union Training Mission (EUTM) Mali was unanimously approved by the parliament's committee for defense and security on Tuesday.

"One six-month tour will cost us around 400,000 euros (424,000 U.S. dollars). But the help is real, not symbolic. They are people who are essential for local military forces. They are specialists in intelligence services, logistics and engineering," said Slovak Defense Ministry State Secretary Milos Koterec.

"It will provide experience also for us because we have little experience with Mali due to a lack of money," he added.

The final decision to deploy troops will be made by a plenary session of parliament.

The EUTM Mali mandate is based on a decision of the UN Security Council and has been operating since 2013. Its aim is to train members of the Malian army to be able to join the UN in its Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission to restore the integrity of Mali and to facilitate the unrestricted exercise of central power in Mali's capital Bamako.

A total of 23 countries are participating in EUTM Mali, and the mandate is valid until June 30, 2016.

Slovakia has not taken part in the mission until now. Endit