Czech Armed Forces Review 1-2010

7/27/2019 Czech Armed Forces Review 1-2010

1/68

CZEC

HREPUBL

IC

1

/2

0

1

0

WE HAVEWE HAVECOMMITMENTSCOMMITMENTSTO MEETTO MEET


2/68

Prime Minister ofthe Czech Republic,Petr Necas, introducedDr. Alexandr Vondra tothe office of Ministerof Defence followingthe appointment of

new Czech Cabinet bythe President of theCzech Republic Vaclav Klaus on July 13, 2010.

Prime Minister Necas said in his remarks thatDr. Alexandr Vondra had worked in foreign and securityfields for almost twenty years and represented a highadded value for the MoD department. At the same time,he thanked outgoing Minister Bartak for his high-qualityperformance.

PM Necas confirmed that the department ofdefence faced challenging tasks. As to internationalcommitments of the Czech Republic, we must remain

a reliable partner, we must keep participating in foreignoperations in a credible manner. At the same time thedefence department must be able to handle budgetrestrictions and the process of makingfinancial flowsand acquisitions more transparent must continue, notonly at the MoD, but across governmental departmentsand agencies.

Dr. Alexandr Vondra in his first address as the Ministerof Defence thanked the outgoing minister Martin Bartakfor his endeavour in national defence. He said thatwe faced huge budget cuts but he did not want to putdefence of this country in danger. I do not want to cut

muscle, but fat if necessary. I do not want the cuts bedone indiscriminately and impair the lowest ranks only.

The new defence minister stressed the defencedepartment needed support from the public, without

which it would be able to sustain development of themilitary, and at the same time it needed stability andguarantees for those who are serious about defence of

the Czech Republic and its international commitments.

In the process of assuming the office of the Minister ofDefence of the Czech Republic, Alexandr Vondra gave aninterview to www.army.cz the following is an abbreviatedversion:

Minister, what changes have been the key ones in thedevelopment of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republicover the past twenty years?

There are three breaking points in my view: progressivedownsizing of the excessively large armed forces, joiningNATO including deployments for major international

operations and transitioning to all-volunteer force. Thesethree steps were essential and correct. But unfortunatelynot all the reforms were performed with a clear vision.Some decisions were voluntaristic and rather close toimprovising, while we keep repying the arising duesarising to date. In a way, we are still lacking a clearanswer to the key question: what do we have the militaryfor and what for we will be using it over the next fifteento twenty years. We owe the answer and we must offer itboth to soldiers inside and the public outside, becausewe will not do without their support.

What will be the first steps you are going to take at theMinistry of Defence?

In the weeks ahead, we will be preparing thebudget for the next year. We have undertakenin the coalition agreement to save CZK 2.1billion. My objective will be to identify possiblesavings in all types of expenses so that thecuts would not fall only on non-commissionedofficers and soldiers although it would bethe easiest solution for some high-rankingpeople. In nutshell if we are to cut anything,it must be fat, not muscle. In addition to that,I would like to call on the defence communityto set up a group comprising civilian and

military experts both from inside and outsidethe MoD Department, who will be tasked tothe White Book, an essential policy documentabout the future of the Armed Forces.

New Minister ofNew Minister ofDefence introducedDefence introducedin to his Officein to his OfficeWe have commitments to meet


3/68

Ces

Contents

CZECH ARMED FORCES REVIEW1/2010Published by Ministry of Defence ofthe Czech Republic, Presentationand Information Centre

Address:Rooseveltova 23

161 05 Praha 6Czech RepublicTel.: + 420-973 215 5 53Tel./fax: + 420-973 215 569E-mail: [email protected]

Identification number: 60162694

www.army.cz

Date of publication:July 2010

Editor-in-chief:Jan Prochzka

Layout:Jitka Oktbcov

Translation:Jan Jindra

Printed by:EUROPRINT, a. s.

Distributed by PIC MO:Rooseveltova 23161 05 Praha 6Czech RepublicTel.: + 420-973 215 6 02

Registration number:MKR E 18227

ISSN 1803-2125

MoD Czech Republic

Presentationand Information Centre

2 332

EEvents

Friday, July16, 2010, Admiral Di Paola attended an of cial welcoming ceremonywi th mi l i taryhonours in the HonoraryCourtyard of the VtkovNational Memorial ,accompanied bythe Chief of General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces,General Vlastimi l Picek.

The Chairman of NATOMil i taryCommittee, Admiral G iampaolo Di Paola, arrivedPrague July15, 2010, for a t wo-dayvisi t of the Czech Republ ic.

A d mi r a l D i P a o la th e n me twi th G e n e r a l P i ce k a t th eG e n e r a l S ta ff fo r d i scu ssio n s o ntr a n sfo r ma ti o n o f Cze ch A r me dFo r ce s a n d o n o p ti o n s a va i l a b leto Czech Armed Forces. GeneralP i ce k a n d A d mi r a l D i P a o laa l so to u ch e d o n mo d e r n i sa ti o np r o je cts u n d e r wa y i n th eCze ch d e fe n ce d e p a r tme n t.Th e i r d i scu ssio n fo cu se d o no p e r a ti o n s a n d p r ima r i l y th emissio n s i n A fg h a n i sta n .

Th e A r me d Fo r ce s o f th eCze ch Re p u b l i c h a s a lwa yswo r ke d a cti ve l y i n fo r e i g no p e r a ti o n s a n d th a t wi l lco n ti n u e . S u ch e ffo r ts wi l lh o we ve r b e b a se d o n p o l i t i ca ld e ci si o n s o f o u r p o l i t i ca l l e a d e r s a n d wi l l d e p e n d o n th ep o te n ti a l o f n a ti o n a l e co n o my, G e n e r a l P i ce k st r e sse d .

A d mi r a l D i P a o la s mi l i ta r y se r vi ce ca r e e r h a s b e e nextremely rich - he commanded Cappelini and Saurosu b ma r i n e s a s we l l a s G a r i b a ld i a i r cr a ft ca r r i e r a n dse r ve d i n se n io r p o si ti o n s o f th e Ita l i a n Min i str y o fDe fe n ce a n d De fe n ce S ta ff. In a p r e ss co n fe r e n ce h esta te d : A s a NA TO r e p r e se n ta ti ve , I wo u ld l i ke to sa yth a t th e A l l i a n ce i s ve r y g r a te fu l fo r a l l co n tr i b u ti o n sth e Cze ch Re p u b l i c i s p r o vid i n g i n to o p e r a ti o n s i nK o so vo a n d A fg h a n i sta n . De sp i te th e d i fcu l t e co n o micsi tu a ti o n imp a cti n g o n o th e r A l l i e s a l i ke , NA TO r e ma in sve r y g r a te fu l fo r yo u r p a r ti c i p a ti o n i n th o se e ffo r ts.

Th e Ch a i r ma n o f NA TO s Mi l i ta r y Co mmi tte e a l so sa idi n cr e a sin g th e n u mb e r o f i n str u cto r s i n A fg h a n i sta n wa s a nimp o r ta n t mo me n t o n th e wa yto wa r d s imp r o vin g se cu r i tysi tu a ti o n i n th e co u n tr y. A s to NA TO s r e q u i r e me n tsa d d r e sse d to th e Cze ch Re p u b l i c, th e ya r e th e sa me a sr e q u i r e me n ts a d d r esse d to a l l o th e r A l l i e s, a n d i t i s u pto e a ch NA TO n a ti o n h o w t h o se co n tr i b u ti o n s wi l l b er e a l i se d . B u t A fg h a n i sta n r e ma in s o p e r a ti o n a l p r i o r i ty

n u mb e r o n e . P r e se n tl y, i t i s e sse n ti a l to i n ve st i n totr a i n i n g A fg h a n i Na ti o n a l S e cu r i tyFo r ce s. S e cu r e f u tu r eo f A fg h a n i sta n i s a l so a se cu r e fu tu r e fo r u s. In ca sesa vin g s a r e n e e d e d , th e r e str i cti o n s sh o u ld b e d o n e i no ve r h e a d a n d a d min i str a ti ve fu n cti o n s, n o t o p e r a ti o n s,Admiral Di Paola stressed.

O n Fr i d a y, th e Ch a i r ma n o f NA TO s Mi l i ta r y Co mmi tte eh a d a ca l l o n t h e De fe n ce Min i ste r A le xa n d r V o n d r a a tth e Min i str y o f De fe n ce o f th e Cze ch Re p u b l i c. Th e i rd i scu ssio n co ve r e d th e i n vo l ve me n t o f Cze ch A r me dOfce r s i n i n te r n a ti o n a l e ffo r ts, p r ima r i l y O p e r a ti o nIS A F i n A fg h a n i sta n , a n d th e o n g o in g tr a n sfo r ma ti o n o fCze ch A r me d Fo r ce s.

Th e Cze ch Re p u b l i c wi l l se n d a n e w u n i t to A fg h a n i sta n an operat ional men toring an d liaison team t o providetr a i n i n g to A fg h a n i Na ti o n a l A r my p e r so n n e l . A fty-me mb e r te a m to o p e r a te i n th e Wa r d a k P r o vin ce i nA fg h a n i sta n wi l l d e p lo y i n a S e p te mb e r time fr a me . Th enew deployment, however, ts wi th i n th e n u mb e r o fse r vi ce p e r so n n e l i n fo r e i g n o p e r a ti o n s ma n d a te d b y th eP a r l i a me n t fo r 2 0 1 0 .

Th e sch e d u le o f A d mi r a l D i P a o la s vi s i t a l so i n cl u d e da b r i e f ca l l w i th th e P r e sid e n t o f th e Cze ch Re p u b l i c,Vclav Klaus.

www.a r my.czp h o to s b y Ma r i e Ko v a n d Mo D P IC

Friday, July16, 2010, Admiral Di Paola attended an of cial welcoming ceremonyw i th m i l i t a r h o n o u r s i n th e o n o r ar o u r ta r d o f th e V t k o v a t i o n al e m o r ia l

NATO highly valuesNATO highly valuesCzech contr ibut ionsCzech contr ibut ionsto operat ionsto operat ionsTh e we l co me ce r e mo n y a l so i n vo l ve d th e Mi l i ta r y

Re p r e se n ta ti ve o f th e Cze ch Re p u b l i c i n NA TO a n d E U,L ie u te n a n t- G e n er a l Ja r o sla v K o l ku s. A fte r r e vi e win g th eCze ch A r me d Fo r ce s Ho n o u r Un i t, A d mi r a l D i P a o la wi thG e n e r a l P i ce k l a i d a wr e a th to th e Me mo r ia l a t V tko v.

2323

Cover photos by Jan Prochzka

1011101110 11

NA

ne

o

NATO

Integration

Since Apri l , Major Mi lan Voj ek has been an operation pi lotSince Apri l , Major Mi lan Voj ek has been an operation pi lotof the E-3A AWACS airborne warning and control system aircraft,of the E-3A AWACS airborne warning and control system aircraft,whi le the Czech Republ ic is in sight of i ts ful l membershipwhi le the Czech Republ ic is in sight of i ts ful l membershipin the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control program (NAEW&C)in the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control program (NAEW&C)

At the runway threshold of NATOairbase nearbyGei lenkirchen, Germany, an E-3ASentryAWACS airplane stands ready. Cleared for take-off, runwaytwo seven,instruction from trafc control ler sounds in the headset of the pi lot, Major Mi lanVojek. Having set the four Pratt&Whitneyturbofans to take-off m ode, he letloose brakes. Boeing B-707/320 wi th i ts hal lmark, the round rotat ing radarantenna, starts on the runwayand gets ai rborne soon to cl imb to i ts ight level .It is about ninetyminutes before todays destination in Norwayis reached.

In AWACS over EuropeIn AWACS over Europe

5657565756 57576

E xp e cte d time o f a r r i va l b a ck to th e ca mp i s a s l a tea s fo u r p .m. S o , MRE p a cks wi l l n e e d to ma ke u p fo rth e l u n ch . Th e r e wi l l n o t b e time l a te r o n to e a t; so meth e r e fo r e r a th e r e a t n o w. O n e o f th e so ld i e r s o ffe r s u sd r i e d b e e f. He sa ys i t s a p e r fe ct th i n g : i t j u st we ig h sa co u p le o f g r a ms a n d ma ke s yo u fe e l fu l l . He a l so sh o wsh o w to e a t i t. Th e b e st wa y i s to te a r b r e s wi th te e th a n dle t i t i n t h e mo u th fo r a wh i l e , u n ti l sa l i va i n cr e a se s i tsvo lu me .

HARRYPOTTER SHOOTING RANGE

S o me o n e b e h in d u s sa ys th e l o ca l r a n g e i s r e a l g o o d .Th e y sa y th e r e i s a r o ck l i ke fr o m th e Ha r r y P o tte r , n e a r l ya th o u sa n d me tr e h i g h . It j u st ta ke s o f co u p le o f m in u te sfo r u s to se e fo r o u r se l ve s th a t th e y h a d n o t b l u ffe d th i stime a t a l l . Th e sa l i e n t r o ck ca n b e se e n fr o m a g r e a td i sta n ce a l r e a d y. To g e t th e r e , we r st n e e d to p a ssCa mp A l timu r . Th e fo r tica ti o n u p h i l l i s th e h o me b a seto Ro ma n ia n sp e cia l fo r ce s a n d A fg h a n i Na ti o n a l A r my.There are Americans here as well. The range has beenb o o ke d . We j u st n e e d to si g n a d o cu me n t wi th A me r i ca n sco fn i r m in g we h a ve fa mi l i a r i ty w i th sa fe ty r u l e s a n dsta n d a r d o p e r a ti o n p r o ce d u r e s o f th e l o ca l fa ci l i ty.

Like PlayingLike Playinga Compute r Gamea Compute r GameDoO

o

DeployedOperations

We left b last wal ls ringing Camp Shank and headed south down the Road Utah.An extraordinarylong convoyof Humvee, Dingo and Iveco armoured vehiclesindicates that th is t ime i t is nei ther a pat rol nor an escort convoy. Servicepersonnel of the 5th contingent t he Provincia l Reconstruction Team (PRT)in Logar are scheduled for infantryweapon shooting practise.

Fi ring the M2HB-QCB heavymachine gun mounted on Ivecol ight armoured vehicles is veryaccurate and relativelycomfy.

We a r e a l l o ca te d fr e q u e n cie s we mu st b e p e r ma n e n tl ya va i l a b le a t, a n d l e t s g o .

We wi l l b e sh o o ti n g n e a r l y a l l we a p o n s u se d b y th eco n ti n g e n t: G lo ck 1 7 p i sto l s, S a - 5 8 r i e s, M in im i , MG 3a n d M2 HB 1 2 .7 - mm ma ch in e g u n s, S a ko a n d Fa l ko nsniper ries, AGS-17 grenade launchers and Carl GustavRPGs. The Czech representative in the EUPOL (EU PoliceMissio n ) , wh o i s w i th u s to d a y, h a s e ve n b r o u g h t th eG e r ma n G 3 6 su b ma ch in e g u n . If we a r e g o o d time wise ,we wi l l a l so sh o o t DS h K a n d P K M ma ch in e g u n s mo u n te do n Hu mve e s, e xp la i n s th e o fce r r e sp o n sib l e fo rto d a y sr i n g p r a cti se , WO Zd e nk I., a n d co n ti n u e s: Toma in ta i n h a b i ts yo u h a ve d r i l l e d a n d yo u r ma r ksma n sh ipsta n d a r d s i s e ve n mo r e imp o r ta n t o n a n o p e r a ti o n a l to u rth a n a n ywh e r e e l se . Th a t i s wh y we p r a cti se sh o o ti n gtwi ce a we e k. O n e time we g o h e r e , a t th e A l timu ri n fa n tr y r a n g e , wh e r e we ca n sh o o t l o n g d i sta n ce s. Weco u ld h a r d l y tr y su ch tr a i n i n g o u t b a ck h o me . In a d d i ti o nto th a t, we a r e u si n g a n o th e r r a n g e r i g h t o n th e b a se ,wh i ch wa s cr e a te d fr o m fo r me r h e l i p a d . B u t o n l y sh o r t-r a n g e p r a cti se i s p o ssib l e th e r e .

We a r e i n te r e ste d mo st i n th e i n ve n to r y o f th e Ive coL MV l i g h t a r mo u r e d ve h i cl e s th a t th e r e co n n a i ssa n ced e ta ch me n t u se s. Dr i ve r s p r a i se d d r i v i n g p r o p e r ti e s o fth e ve h i cl e e q u ip p e d wi th a u to ma ti c g e a r b o x a sh o r twh i l e a g o . De sp i te a l l a r mo u r a n d a str o n g p r o te cti o n ,th e ve h i cl e i s sa id t o b e h i g h l y ma n o e u vr a b le . It d o e su p to h u n d r e d a n d te n ki l o me tr e s a n h o u r o n r o a d . Th emo d u la r b a l l i sti c p r o te cti o n ca n e a si l y b e e n h a n ce d wi tha d d - o n a r mo u r se ts. Up o n th e r o o f, a cce ssib l e th r o u g ha h a tch , i s th e P r o te cto r M1 5 1 A 2 we a p o n sta ti o nco n tr o l l e d fr o m wi th i n th e ca b , p r o d u ce d b y K o n g sb e r gco mp a n y o f No r wa y. It h o u se s th e M2 HB .Q CB h e a vyma ch in e g u n ma n u fa ctu r e d b y FN He r sta l o f B e lg i u m.A p a r t fr o m th o se , th e we a p o n sta ti o n ca n a l so mo u n ta 4 0 - mm g r e n a d e l a u n ch e r a s we l l a s Ja ve l i n , M i str a l o rCRV 7 /Hyd r a missi l e s. Th e r e a r e a l so smo ke g r e n a d e s,b u t th e y d o n o t g e t a cti va te d th i s t ime .

u v i lort convoy. Serviceruction Team (PRT)actise.

NATO highly values Czech contributionsto operations ................................................... 2

Three days in Operation ISAF .................. ......... 4

Looking Ten Years Ahead .................................. 6

In AWACS over Europe ..................................... 10

Czech Republic successful

in addressing a major NATO challenge .............. 16Mountains and Sand Checking Czechs .............. 18

Crisis Management Brussels style ................. 24

Caring for Security and Cooperation ................. 26

OSCE ............................................................. 30

The Drill thats going to Pay .............................. 34

Journey to Millie Paygham ................................ 38

Architects of International Relations ................ 42

Multinational Logistic Coordination

Center: One Step Closer ................................... 46Safeguarding Part of the Sky ............................ 48

Every Mission Unique ...................................... 52

Like Playing a Computer Game ......................... 56

Two Years of OMeLeTte .................................... 60

Bozena at the Jordan River ............................... 63

How will you resist the pressureof your coalition partnersaiming to obtain necessaryfunding by curtailing defenceappropriations?

The crisis forces us to seeksavings in the long run. But the

crisis is also an opportunity.Defence cuts may not go onforever; we should stabilise theminstead. The practice of everyonein need of quick funds grabbing forthe Ministry of Defences budgetmust simply be brought to anend. Armed Forces developmentplanning period may not be limitedjust to twelve months, and changethe amount of funding every year.We also have commitments to

our NATO Allies to meet. We mustdeliver them and not hamper onour credit as a reliable Ally withill-considered fiscal planning.

What concept should theArmed Forces have all-serviceor specialised?

Today we are somewherebetween all-service and specia-lised armed forces. While nichespecialisation is logical intodays security environment, thearmed forces must not lose its

core functions protection of ournational territory. We are neithercancelling fighters nor tanks.Before we decide to pursue thepath of specialisation, there mustbe a clear vision why we do so andwhat price tag will there be for usin the future to pay. At the sametime, we must have assurancesthat our Allies will help usincluding in instances when wewill not have certain capabilities

ourselves.www.army.cz

photos by Marie Kov


4/68

22

Ees

Events

Friday, July 16, 2010, Admiral Di Paola attended an official welcoming ceremonywith military honours in the Honorary Courtyard of the Vtkov National Memorial,accompanied by the Chief of General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces,General Vlastimil Picek.

The Chairman of NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, arrivedPrague July 15, 2010, for a two-day visit of the Czech Republic.

riday, July 16, 2010, Admiral Di Paola attended an official welcoming ceremony

NATO highly valuesNATO highly valuesCzech contributionsCzech contributionsto operationsto operationsThe welcome ceremony also involved the Military

Representative of the Czech Republic in NATO and EU,Lieutenant-General Jaroslav Kolkus. After reviewing theCzech Armed Forces Honour Unit, Admiral Di Paola with

General Picek laid a wreath to the Memorial at Vtkov.


5/68

3

Admiral Di Paola then metwith General Picek at theGeneral Staff for discussions ontransformation of Czech ArmedForces and on options availableto Czech Armed Forces. GeneralPicek and Admiral Di Paolaalso touched on modernisationprojects underway in theCzech defence department.

Their discussion focused onoperations and primarily themissions in Afghanistan.

The Armed Forces of theCzech Republic has always

worked actively in foreignoperations and that willcontinue. Such efforts willhowever be based on politicaldecisions of our political leaders and will depend on the

potential of national economy, General Picek stressed.Admiral Di Paolas militar y service career has beenextremely rich - he commanded Cappelini and Saurosubmarines as well as Garibaldi aircraft carrier andserved in senior positions of the Italian Ministry ofDefence and Defence Staff. In a press conference hestated: As a NATO representative, I would like to saythat the Alliance is very grateful for all contributionsthe Czech Republic is providing into operations inKosovo and Afghanistan. Despite the difficult economicsituation impacting on other Allies alike, NATO remains

very grateful for your participation in those efforts.

The Chairman of NATOs Militar y Committee also saidincreasing the number of instructors in Afghanistan was animportant moment on the way towards improving securitysituation in the country. As to NATOs requirementsaddressed to the Czech Republic, they are the same asrequirements addressed to all other Allies, and it is upto each NATO nation how those contributions will berealised. But Afghanistan remains operational priority

number one. Presently, it is essential to invest into

training Afghani National Security Forces. Secure futureof Afghanistan is also a secure future for us. In casesavings are needed, the restrictions should be done inoverhead and administrative functions, not operations,

Admiral Di Paola stressed.On Friday, the Chairman of NATOs Military Committee

had a call on the Defence Minister Alexandr Vondra atthe Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic. Theirdiscussion covered the involvement of Czech ArmedOfficers in international efforts, primarily OperationISAF in Afghanistan, and the ongoing transformation ofCzech Armed Forces.

The Czech Republic will send a new unit to Afghanistan an operational mentoring and liaison team to providetraining to Afghani National Army personnel. A fifty-member team to operate in the Wardak Province in

Afghanistan will deploy in a September timeframe. Thenew deployment, however, fits within the number ofservice personnel in foreign operations mandated by theParliament for 2010.

The schedule of Admiral Di Paolas visit also includeda brief call with the President of the Czech Republic,

Vclav Klaus.

www.army.cz

photos by Marie Kov and MoD PIC


6/68

44

NOTHING IS IM POSSIBLE, ANYTIM E

AN YWHEREThefirst stop was made at the 2nd Czech Armed Forces

contingent ISAF HELI UNIT in the Paktika province inthe east of the country.

Commander of the helicopter unit at ForwardOperating Base Sharana, Lieutenant-Colonel MilanKoutn, briefed the members of General Piceks teamon the contingents operational capabilities, as well asminor shortcomings the contingent is able to handleinflight. All attendees were then invited to tour themobile maintenance shop that serves for keeping therotary wing assets serviceable. Addressing the 2nd Czech

Armed Forces contingent in line-up, General Picek said:

I arrived to gain familiarity with how the operational

assignment is performed here and express my personalsupport to your duties. The motto that your unit boasts:

Nothing is impossible, anytime anywhere are not justwords.Along with the contingent commander and other

members of his team, General Picek then visited theCommander U.S. Task Force Timberwolf and Commanderof the base the Czech helicopter unit operates from,Brigadier Charles Martin, who told the delegationthe Czech helicopter forces performance had beenexcellent.

Three days in Operation ISAFThree days in Operation ISAF

General Vlastimil Picek, the Chief of General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces,visited with a working group Czech soldiers serving their tours as a part of taskforces delivering objectives of Operation ISAF in the territory of Afghanistan.

DoeOao

DeployedO

perations


7/68

55

HUM BLENESS M ODESTY HUM ANITY

On the second day, the Chief of General Staff CzechArmed Forces General Picek continued his inspectionvisit in the heart of Afghanistan, the Logar province.

Personnel of the 5th Czech Armed Forces contingentin Operation ISAF work closely with the civiliancomponent of the Provincial Reconstruction Team. Theyassess mutual cooperation as exceeding high-qualitystandards. Both the military and civilians conclude:Development without security is inconceivable andsecurity without development does not make sense. Oneteam one mission.

General Picek met both the military and thecivilian PRT component. Military Police officersinformed him about the need for a higher number of

Afghani National Police officers demanded by theGovernment of Afghanistan and about the necessityto continuously improve training not only on the base,but also in the field in assigned area of responsibility.

Czech instructors spoke about the Afghanis as goodmarksmen, who are also said to display surprisingagility on obstacle courses. The training they receivefocuses on suspect apprehension, vehicle checking andcountering victim-borne improvised explosive devices.Recent numbers show fifty-four Afghans out of 56,

who received a training course completion certificate,and were issued a tactical vest, helmet, gloves, fielduniform, handcuffs and sports and protective aids.

Aged between 26 and 30 on average, the Afghans - newprotectors of law and order in the country regard thecertificate award ceremony a very important event.

I would like to thank all of you for a job well done;I follow new developments in your area in a veryaggravated security situation every day. You are right,and Colonel Johnson confirmed what you said, thatcooperation of Czech soldiers with their U.S. colleaguesis presently the best of all joint Czech-U.S. endeavours inthis province. I know your motto is Humbleness Modesty Humanity. On the whole, you are evaluated as one of thebest PRTs and that is appreciated at all levels. So I would

add to your motto: and diligence,General Picek concluded both hisevening briefing and the secondday of his inspection trip.

PRECISION AN D

ORGANISATIONAL S KILLSOn the third day of his visit,

General Picek travelled to the 3rdCzech Armed Forces ContingentNSE and CBRN defence unit inOperation ISAF stationed at KAIA.

The morning meeting involvingGeneral Picek and Chief of GeneralStaff of Afghanistan, General

Bismillah Khan Mohammadi,primarily covered cooperationbetween the two countries,specifically as concerns training

Mi-24 helicopter pilots and further opportunities to trainpilots on Mi-17 Hinds.

In an informal meeting with Commander ISAFOperation Headquarters General David M. Rodriguez,the Czech delegation was updated on current situationin Afghanistan. General Picek also met the Ambassadorof the Czech Republic in Afghanistan, H.E. Petr Pelz.

A short briefing by Lieutenant-Colonel Josef imnek,the Commander the 3rd Czech Armed Forces NSEcontingent, followed in the afternoon at KAIA.

A new element in the Armed Forces of the CzechRepublic was the briefing by Deputy Chief of GeneralStaff Director of MoD Joint Operations Center, BrigadierGeneral Ale Opata to General Picek on the final reportproduced by the Vulnerability Assessment Team (VAT)tasked to evaluate individual areas of vulnerabilityand weaknesses of deployments in performance ofmissions and assignments in Operation ISAF, proposesystemic measures to increase their protection andalso present proposals to redress shortcomings andrecommendation on implementing lessons-learnt intotraining or introducing new materiel into inventory.

The VAT replaced the obsolete system of evaluating

and inspection of foreign deployments by the means ofmethodology assistance and subject-matter inspectionsthat judged mission performance from the viewpointof peacetime status, not in the perspective of combatdeployment of Czech forces in a real operation.

Service personnel of the 3rd Czech Armed Forcescontingent and CBRN Defence unit in Operation ISAFsurprised the Chief of General Staff with their precisionand outstanding organisational skills. Before hisdeparture to the Czech Republic, he made a farewell

with them saying: You have neither any motto, norslogan, but you were simply born with precision and

organisational skills.

by Mira Tebick, Communication Managerof the Chief of General Staff ACR


8/68

6

Key national defence and security policies and documents on strategicdevelopment of the MoD Department alike are developed by the MoD DefencePolicy and Strategy Division

InevewfoREW

Interviewfo

rREVIEW

Often seen among the leadership of the Ministry ofDefence and the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic,do you consider yourself a man of influence?

I have never understood my endeavour in the MoDDepartment as some sort of fighting for influence;in other words, I do not make any distinction amongcapacities with higher or lower influence. Any oneindividual or functionary, be they military professionalsor civilian employees, has relevant responsibilitiesand duties assigned and it is up to the individual whatquality standards he or she will perform their jobat. At the moment, I am in the head of the DefenceMinistrys Defence Policy and Strategy Division and I amassigned completely specific tasks, a specific share ofresponsibility.

Could you expand on that?

For example, we are currently in the process ofimplementing a brand new planning system whileeffort is underway to develop the 2012-16 MinistersPlanning Guidance. Apart from that, I am responsiblefor coordinating foreign cooperation in the MoDDepartment and represent the Ministry of Defenceon several senior groups in the North Atlantic TreatyOrganisation, including the senior group on NATOcommand arrangements reform. Furthermore, my

duties include representing the Czech Republicsinterests in the sessions of the High Level Group (HLG)on NATOs nuclear policy, which is increasingly gainingon importance, especially now before the adoption of

NATOs new Strategic Concept. In addition to that, I siton the Defence Group on Proliferation (DGP) or attendmeetings of both NATO and EU Defence Policy Directors.

I develop plans of offi

cial foreign relations for approval bymy bosses, I approve bilateral cooperation plans, I steerthe Defence coordination group on foreign cooperationand supervise groups of defence advisors workingat Czech Republics missions in foreign countriesfalling into my responsibility. I am also in charge ofMoD positions and documents for the sessions of theNational Security Council, committees of the Parliamentof the Czech Republic or defence policy related bills to

It just takes one security turnstile and a couple of doorsto make it from the Defence Ministry entry gate into the

office of Mr. Ivan Dvok. Just several dozen stepsand you stand face-to-face with him. The moredemanding however is to find an empty slot inthe sequence, as the schedule of AssistantDeputy Minister of Defence for Foreign Affairs

Director MoD Defence Policy and StrategyDivision (DPSD) is extremely busy. A Reportand Armed Forces Review periodicals have

experienced that, and eventually got theirforty minutes for an interview.


9/68

7

be presented in sessions of the Cabinet. Besides, I amcharged to lead the secretariat of Defence PlanningCommittee, including cooperation with appropriatebodies of Ministries and other governmental agencies.

The whole broad MoD DPSD agenda is pursued by manyexperienced and highly qualified experts, so I would notlike just my person to be in the fore.

Now, many defence personnel do not have a clue whatdefence policy and strategy of the Ministry of Defenceactually entails

MoD DPSD is responsible for shaping principlesof the Czech Republics defence and security policy,of the MoD Departments strategic development andnational defence planning principles. We develop thekey strategic policies in this respect.

A clearer picture is gained breaking down theDivisions structure, which automatically providesthe workings. The Division comprises of the DefencePolicy Department formed by the defence policy

section and the international relations section; ofthe Strategic Development Department with MoDplanning and development section, strategic capabilitydevelopment section and national defence planningand crisis management section. In addition to those twodepartments, the MoD DPSD comprises three sections:international law section, strategic analyses section andorganisational development section. Let me underscorethat the service we provide to top MoD and state officialsincludes development of subject-matter agenda for theirmeetings. We prepare specialist recommendations toinform decision-making. I can give you the responsibilities

for all the mentioned components in detail, if you will.My apologies, but that would be too much to fit into ourperiodicals. Could rather you tell how much down theroad do you plan?

Planning runs in cycles and covers the medium term offive years. Nevertheless, we also develop broader-basedpolicy documents, such as the Military Strategy, or witha longer outlook, as was the case of MoD DepartmentLongterm vision, which were both approved in 2008.Next year, we are expecting to prepare the CzechRepublics Defence Strategy in the follow-up to NATOs

new Strategic Concept and the prepared White Book onDefence. Our projections run at least ten years ahead,

which is indeed the planning timeframe NATO uses. Weare building on our analyses and observing strategicgoals of international organisations the Czech Republicis a member of. In addition to that, we are also able toperform rather operative taskings.

How will the arms reduction treaty recently signedbetween the United States of America and the RussianFederation affect the Czech MoDs longterm visions?

It will definitely have some impact. The reset ofrelations between the U.S. and the Russian Federation,as well as between NATO and Russia, will be projectedin general perception of security and thereby into the


10/68

8

debates on NATOs Strategic Concept and, consequently,into national security or indeed defence strategies. Theexisting analyses and positions may be reviewed. Wereiterated on a sustained basis that we are committed to

working with the Russian Federation. We regard Russiaas a partner but the important thing is that Russia wouldperceive us as a partner too. Our cooperation should betwo-way; it is not about a zero-sum game.

The Czech Minister of Defence and the U.S. Secretaryof Defense also signed an important agreement in thebeginning of June; it even received comments on itssigning that we have ranked among the elite. Wheredo you think the key importance is of the bilateral

Agreement on Research, Development, Testing andEvaluation?

Importance of the agreement is highlighted by the veryfact that it was personally signed by defence ministersof the two countries which is not quite commonplace

with other agreements. Signing the agreement meansboth parties reaffirmed their exclusive mutual defencerelationship and plus the focus on research andtechnology enjoys a very high attention on both sides.Moreover, the agreement provides opportunities fororganisations and individuals outside the defencesector to become involved in research and developmentprojects.

A wide range of both political leaders and militarycommanders visited the Czech Ministry of Defence. Weexpect that the situation in Afghanistan was one of the

central issues entertained. Could you elaborate on whatthose meetings discussed?

That is the case, because we continue regardAfghanistan a high priority. Everybody agrees that thisyear is the key one. The discussions chiefly resound theissue of increasing troop contributions by individualNATO nations, especially with a view to deploying trainingteams and instructors. That will accelerate preparationsfor the whole process of handing the country graduallyover to Afghani National Security Forces and Afghanauthorities. We joined Operation ISAF together and we

want to leave Afghanistan together as well. It is therefore

essential to strengthen this dimension.

Could you comment on this situation in a greater detail?

In its efforts in Afghanistan, the Czech Republicbuilds on four pillars: supporting reconstructionefforts, building the Afghani National Security Forces,sustaining deployed forces and deploying specialforces. The Eastern part of the country has been theprimary location for us to operate and we expect to carryon sending deployments there. In the future, we want todedicate a higher attention to the training of Afghani

National Security Forces than we have done so far.Afghanistan was also one of the topics duringdiscussions with the Chairman of NATOs Military

InevewfoREW

Interviewfo

rREVIEW

Committee, Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, who visitedthe Czech Republic in mid-July. What was the attitude of

Admiral Di Paola on the Czech position and the promiseto send a training team?

Admiral Di Paola has an in-depth familiarity with ourplans and he said on several occasions during his visit hehighly valued our focus. All senior MoD officials meetingthe Admiral reaffirmed the intent despite financialdifficulties we have been facing. He also appreciatedthe fact that we would send, in September later this yearas we promised, an Operational Mentoring and Liaison

Team (OMLT) in the Wardak Province.

The Parliament of the Czech Republic mandated theArmed Forces to deploy up to 535 service personnel in2010 as a ceiling. Does the authorised number need tofilled immediately upon endorsement?

The mandate is given for the whole calendar year.It does not mean that all task forces would deploy at

January the first. That is also the case of the mentionedCzech Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT)for a Kandak (battalion equivalent) of the Afghan


11/68

9

National Army (ANA), scheduled for deployment inSeptember later this year. By no means does a possiblelower number contradict the endorsed mandate.

Let us entertain deployed operations some more. TheMinister of Defence of the Czech Republic, Dr. Alexandr

Vondra, said in his first interview after assuming theoffice: We also have commitments to our Allies in theNorth Atlantic Treaty Organisation, We have to meetthem and not hamper on our credit as a reliable Ally. Issuch certainty important for your work in the manyNATO and national committees?

Look, certainty for maintaining continuity in foreignand defence policy is important from two perspectivesin this respect: on one side, for our soldiers, who planand prepare deployments and service personnel actuallyinvolved in those operations and missions; and on theother hand we demonstrate to our NATO partners that weare dependable and foreseeable. Those were the reason

leading the MoD to initiate amending the system ourParliament employs to authorise mandates for the CzechArmed Forces to deploy our soldiers for operations fromone-year to a two-year mandate with outlook for the thirdday.

What about the future of Czech Armed Forcescontingents in Kosovo?

Security situation in Kosovo is getting stable, whichenables downsizing the KFOR personnel substantially.Recommendation is being developed for proceeding to

Gate 2, which in fact represents having roughlyfi

ve anda half thousand Allied soldiers in Kosovo. We will not seethe Czech contingent closing down Camp Sajkovac this

year, as we will be taking over the role of battalion-sizeoperational reserve force. We plan to conclude the Czechcontingents eleven years of operation then, while weexpect to maintain our representation in internationalstaffs there in the years ahead.

Let us get back to the homeland. Browsing long termvisions of the MoD Department, do you find there anymore reorganisations or restrictions?

A major challenge the MoD Department has facedover the past couple of years the instability of defenceappropriations. With economic downturn on and publicbudget deficit increasing, it is an unpleasant situation,but it is for real, and we have to be able to cope with it.

We need to identify ways and areas with potential forsavings to be achieved. But it is clear at this time that ifwe want to carry on delivering on our mandator y dutiesand international commitments, we will still need to cutsome structures of the MoD Department. That involvescomponents that are essentially non-deployable,including staffs as well as overhead and administrativecomponents. Possible impacts should already not affectforces in any way.

Final question, Sir: Minister of Defence, AlexandrVondra, aims to set up a committee comprising militaryand civilian experts to develop the so-called White Book

on Defence. What will be the input the MoD DPSD staffwill be providing to what the Minister referred to asthe fundamental policy document on the future of the

Armed Forces?

The specific input for the MoD DPSD to provide intodevelopment of this key policy document is naturallyleft for the Minister to decide. But nevertheless, giventhe body of experience we have assembled developingstrategic policy documents and our knowledge ofinternational security environment, I am confident wehave the potential to play an important role in developing

the policy document at hand.by Pavel Lang and Jan Prochzka

photos by Jan Kouba and Vladimr Marek


12/68

10

NOIneao

NATOIn

tegration

Since April, Major Milan Vojek has been an operation pilotSince April, Major Milan Vojek has been an operation pilotof the E-3A AWACS airborne warning and control system aircraft,of the E-3A AWACS airborne warning and control system aircraft,while the Czech Republic is in sight of its full membershipwhile the Czech Republic is in sight of its full membershipin the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control program (NAEW&C)in the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control program (NAEW&C)

At the runway threshold of NATO airbase nearby Geilenkirchen, Germany, an E-3ASentry AWACS airplane stands ready. Cleared for take-off, runway two seven,instruction from traffic controller sounds in the headset of the pilot, Major Milan

Vojek. Having set the four Pratt&Whitney turbofans to take-off mode, he let

loose brakes. Boeing B-707/320 with its hallmark, the round rotating radarantenna, starts on the runway and gets airborne soon to climb to its flight level.It is about ninety minutes before todays destination in Norway is reached.

In AWACSIn AWACS


13/68

11

over Europeover Europe


14/68

12

First laurels reaped! The Czech Republic already does

have a pilot of the E-3A Airborne Warning and ControlSystem (AWACS) aircraft. The individual is Major MilanVojek, currently a member of the Tiger 1st FlyingSquadron of the NATO E-3A Component based in the

vicinity of Geilenkirchen, Germany. Having previouslyserved at Kbely, the pilot now takes turns in beingseated, from April earlier this year, in the right and leftseat in the AWACS cockpit in the position offirst pilotand airplane captain in training. But that is not the finalobjective either. His flight training on the old lady withthe dish goes on intensively.

END TW DRILLI have gone through hell, MAJ Vojek describes with

obvious exaggeration the six-month drill in the TrainingWing (TW). After the initial theoretical prologue coveringthe material part of AWACS, the so-called simulationstage followed. That encompasses the total of sixteensimulator missions both as a first pilot and as airplanecaptain. They cover management of emergencies inflight. There are defined procedures for all emergenciesthat pilots have to have appropriate knowledge about,but primarily he must be able to perform them. Aneffective and sophisticated academic training system

is continuously overseen by instructors and otherflighttraining specialists. Checking our any of our knowledgeand skills may take place anytime, the Czech militarypilot says and concludes it was often more demanding tomanage piloting the simulator than the real AWACS.

MAJ Vojek completed the January testingon the sim successfully. His next assignment

was nevertheless more engaging a bit:eight training flights on a real seven-o-seven, again concluded by a test. The firsttry that trainees have to pass did not comeout well for MAJ Vojek; but second time

he succeeded. The final comprehensive pilotingtechniques test likewise. The last day of March, hecould finally draw a deep breadth and relax a bitas he successfully completed the basic training

course at the Training Wing. Anotherclean product of the flight trainingfactory was out, he laughs and admitsin the retrospect that he has not beenthrough anything more demanding in hisaviator profession.

The first day of April was not All FoolsDay for him but a prestigious day. He

joined the 1st Operation Squadronas first pilot. There is no time forceremonies here. Squadron personnelchange as frequently as every two

weeks. Those going out put beers andpizza on the bar and receive a plaquefrom the commander. Incomers justintroduce themselves briefly, MAJ

Vojek explains and describes whatawaits him down the road. I need toattain the combat ready status within

six months. It got stuck at the moment on the completion

of ground preparation. But I have already completedseveral flights on the left, as the captain. In order for itto become a permanent matter, I need to meet a wholenumber of other criteria. I estimate the captain seat

within eighteen months; it represents another hugeeffort. Here, you do not get any alleviation, you ratherget some more tasking.

LANDIN G WITH ENGIN E OFF

How does it feel like to fly an AWACS? Frankly, it ismuch more demanding than I thought it would be. Ranging

from the absence of hydraulic actuators during piloting toa long period of time spent onboard. Ever ything is basedon a good knowledge of the performance parameters.

AWACS is a machine working on modes. If you set the rightfigures in specific situations, the airplane will respondthe way it is expected to, MAJ Vojek elaborates andemphasises the pilots professional performance. Theairplane is typical with its general inertia; you needto wait patiently for its response after you have takenaction. Fitfulness is not desirable in flight control, youneed to fly in a relaxed manner despite holding sucha mammoth on the yoke.

The practical experience allows him to compare

piloting of Boeing with the dish and the TCA (Trainingand Cargo Aircraft) seven-o-seven. The TCAis like a sport car in this respect, in other

NOIneao

NATOIn

tegration


15/68

13

words much faster. You really feel the absence of theradar antenna. Previous experience with flying the L-39

Albatross trainer jets comes useful, he argues.The Czech pilot goes on reviewing his endeavour. His

description of the existingflight effort results in at leasttwo conclusions. The training mission finale involves anapproach at some of the European airports and repeatedtake-off from the local runway. The first part is often

performed with one engine off, the second one at fullthrottle on all AWACS engines. Why do we train this? It isreality that has happened on several occasions already.I am no exception to that.

For clear reasons, Major Vojek is not rather eagerto discuss the conk-out. But he eventually consents anddescribes a recent case. We performed repeated take-off from runway in Geilenkirchen and one engine wentoff in the most critical phase. The airplane tended todrive off the runway. Our reaction needed to be quick andin compliance with regulations. Within four seconds weassessed the situation and performed required actiononboard. We managed to handle it well and we got the

machine airborne with threeengines. Flying with oneengine conked out, you are

readying yourselves another one may go off and you willbe landing with two engines on only. Luckily that did nothappen. We onlyfilled in a safety report after landing.

That is not a reason to stop training at the component.It is like a bass guitar with one string broken. You playusing the other three.

NEXT CHALLENGE? REFUELLING

A view of the apron at the MOB (Main Operating Base)in Geilenkirchen may be surprising to some. Despite theNATO E-3A Component registers 17 AWACS aircraft in itsinventory, the apron is nearly empty. Why? The machinesare deployed at three FOBs (Forward Operating Base)in Trapani (Italy), Konya (Turkey), Aktion (Greece) andOerland (Norway). In addition to that, some of the aircraftparticipate in NATO exercises or undergo maintenance.It is not that easy to find suitable locations for ourflighttraining every day. Given the AWACS performance data,

we have specific limits for landings and takeoffs. We mostfrequently operate at airports in the Federal Republic of

Germany, Denmark, Norway, the United Kingdom andLuxembourg. We are also planning to provide supportto air exercises in the Czech Republic with the E-3A

AWACS airplane. The Czech Republic has a considerableadvantage in this respect, because it

is located within an hours flightfrom the designated refuelling area

covered by the U.S. Air National Guard KC-135tankers, MAJ Vojek adds and states that air-to-airrefuelling training is the next challenge for him. Inflightrefuelling is solely the captains responsibility. You get

yourfifteen minutes of fame and off you go showing what

you have learnt.AWACS aircraft performance data implies that themachine may operate in the area of interest for up toten hours. Outsiders may ask what is done to fill that


16/68

period of time? We support the so-called mission crew.In windows where there are no flight activities involvingcombat aircraft, we practise emergency proceduresonboard. Their frequency and type is not limited. It isdefinitely not boring to be on an operationflight, arguesthe Czech Air Force pilot, for whom the multinationalenvironment of the unit in Geilenkirchen became itssecond home. My colleagues positive attitude andtheir selfless help in any situation are a great impulsefor me. Counting in my excellent family and one-hundred percent service provided by the Czech supportcomponent at Joint Force Command Headquarters inBrunssum, Netherlands, I am managing to accomplishmy professional assignments.

PERMANENT OPTIMISM

I am still optimistic about an early membership forthe Czech Republic in the NAEW&C programme. As ifthis opening statement by Mr. Ji Bedn, the Czech

representative in the NATO Airborne Early Warning andControl (AEW&C) Program Management Organisation(NAPMO) headquartered in Brunssum, Netherlands,heralded the whole contents of the interview.

We spoke with Mr. Bedn, who was posted here bythe MoD Defence Policy and Strategy Division, aboutthe Czech engagement, be it in the observer role oras a full member of the NAEW&C programme, at thebeginning of December last year. At that time, there

was every indication that the final act - the signaturepermitting the Czech Republic to fully accede wouldtake place without any obstacles. The signing has not

occurred yet because of purely administrative reasons,the Czech representative said and elaborated: TheCzech Republic participates in sessions of nearly allgroups. Other nations involved in the programme, thoseseventeen permanent members, regards the CzechRepublic a member as De facto a matter of fact. The onlystep to be taken is the administrative measure, de iure if

you will the act of signing and formal affirmation of ouraccession to the program.

For Mr. Bedn, the first half of 2010 was markedwith big, substantial changes he says. I had a chanceto gain insight into many circumstances and details,

whose knowledge and understanding enables us a more

quality engagement. The positive aspect is the CzechRepublic enjoys the treatment

as a member, as contributingnation that seeks to make useof all possibilities the programis offering.

Indeed, those opportunitiesrepresent a range of

offers for theCzech Republic, its

Armed Forcesand chiefly for

Czech enterprisesto join industrial

cooperation programs. For the time being, this is thequestion of possible future cooperation according

to Mr. Bedn, but it is essential to identify areas forCzech involvement to consider already at this stage.The NAEW&C program is one a few projects you donot only contribute in, but can also benefit from. Inpractical terms: if you meet all the tough conditionsapplying mainly to aerospace industries, you standa real chance of getting into green figures overall. Nowork no rewards applies fully.

Despite we are still an observer on the programme,still before the door, we seek to cover both industrialcooperation groups. The first one, the Industry BenefitGroup, engages in the sphere of flight operations

support. The other one called Industry Participation is thepart where direct involvement of Czech manufacturingcenters comes into play. Specific project assignmentsare pursued there, such as cockpit modernisation,

NOIneao

NATOIn

tegration


17/68

15

simulator modernisation as well as installation and useof state-of-the-art navigation systems, high-capacitydata transmission systems, Mr. Bednunveils what isbehind the scenes in Brunssum and adds: Everythingmust be suited to operating as a part of traffic overEurope. The traffic in European airspace is very denseand military aircraft must be able to operate in thedomain of civil aviation.

Nevertheless, the NAEW&C programme is not justabout science and technology, but primarily aboutinvolvement of people, specifically military expertsof various occupational specialties into training andsubsequent operational missions in the instance of the

Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. A member of CzechAir Force is scheduled to join the Training Wing to starttraining as a navigator in August, while the assignment ofadditional two Czech specialists is planned in Decembertimeframe to man the mission crew, i.e. specialistoperators of various early warning and control systemsonboard AWACS.

Despite the Czech Republic and its Armed Forceshaving only one permanent representative at theNAPMO headquarters in Brunssum, the meetings of

various committees see the attendance of experts frommany Czech MoD components and agencies. There isa common interest to maintain the good credit the CzechRepublic has managed to win, Mr. Bedn says by the

way of conclusion, and adds: I am just a feeler thatidentifies problems and, based on my understanding ofthe matter at hand, I am in close contact with expertsback in Prague, namely from the MoD ArmamentsDivision, the MoD Defence Policy and Strategy Division,

the Force Development Division.So, our office doors both at Brunssum andGeilenkirchen are open. It only takes the notional legalact - signing the Czech Republics full membership in theNATO AEW&C programme, which is expected soon. But itis for sure that our engagement enjoys visibility and wehave many opportunities to strengthen our role.

by Pavel Lang and Jan Prochzkaphotos by Jan Kouba and NATO E-3A Component


18/68

1616

The Czech Republic is leading the helicopter initiativeeffort that is designed to help NATO tackle the lack of

transport helicopters, which also arises from the fact thatthe helicopters many countries currently operate are nottechnically suited to todays operational environmentsor are close to the end of their life, while acquisition ofnew machines is both time-consuming and costly.

Along with the helicopter initiative, international trustfund was created under the lead of the United Kingdomfor individual nations to provide funds in support ofprojects increasing the quantity of helicopters usable inoperations.

The trust fund helped finance the special equipmentthe Czech Republic integrated on the upgraded Mi-171Sh helicopters. We have successfully modernisedfive Mi-171Sh helicopters and deployed three of them

Czech Republic successfulCzech Republic successfulin addressingin addressingmajor NATOmajor NATOchallengechallenge

Prague was the venue to a two-day internationalconference on the helicopter initiative namedHIP Helicopter Conference 2010 - Benefits ofFuture Synergies in Multinational Efforts.

MutnoEo

Multinatio

nalEffort


19/68

1717

in Afghanistan starting January 2010 to provide airmobility for both NATO Allies and the Czech ProvincialReconstruction Team, Deputy Defence Minister forForeign Affairs Jan Fulk said.

The Czech Republic is currently in position to shareits know-how with other NATO nations. We are presently

offering our services to Hungary and Bulgaria,stated Jan Fulk and added that those countries werealso considering deployment of their helicopters in

Afghanistan, but they had not proceeded as far as theCzech Republic did.

The helicopter initiative the Czech Republic is leadinghas ten members so far. Apart from V4 states, theinitiative also associates big nations with large defencebudgets: the United Kingdom, Spain, Turkey and Norway.

It is matter of days before the U.S. ratify their accessionto the agreement, Jan Fulk unveiled.

According to the Director of MoD Defence Policy andStrategy Division, Mr. Ivan Dvok, the U.S. membership inthe initiative would bring both prestige and engagementof worlds leading scientists, designers, pilots and

ground personnel, who rank among the true elite. At theend of the day, it may also entail the accession of othercountries, Dvok said.

Taking place in Prague from March 2nd, 2010, the two-day conference was primarily a lesson sharing exerciseaccording to Mr. Fulk. Apart from representatives ofindividual nations, the conference was attended byleading officials and experts of both NATO and theEuropean Defence Agency. Jan Fulk and Ivan Dvokagreed the conference was highly successful. Theysaid individual contributions confirmed that especiallyinternational cooperation on capability development was

the most effective way ahead. The conference enhancedthe joint effort to increase quantity of operationallyusable helicopters, and outlined ways for workingtogether to provide helicopter logistic support andtraining crews on international level. That effort is alsosupported by countries not operating Mi helicopters, butproviding financial contributions, training facilities ormaintenance capacity to meet the common goal.

by Olga Haladov


20/68

1818

PeomTann

PredeploymentTraining

Mountains and SandMountains and SandThe AZOR exercise put readiness of helicopter aircrews to a test prior to theirThe AZOR exercise put readiness of helicopter aircrews to a test prior to theirdeployment for operations in Afghanistandeployment for operations in Afghanistan

Helicopter aircrews of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republicunderwent preparation for operational deployment in Afghanistan in northern

Spain for three weeks in June. In the international exercise AZOR 2010, pilots fromthe Perov and NmAir Force Bases focused on practising operational andtactical procedures used in deployed operations, especially in ISAF.


21/68

1919

Checking CzechsChecking Czechs


22/68

202

A 55-member Czech Armed Forces contingenttravelled to the exercise venue, the Logrono-Agoncilloairbase in Spain, both on land (some 2,230 km fromPrague) and by air with stopover in Phalsbourg,France. The flight formation comprised three Mi-171Shhelicopters and two Mi-24/35 gunships. Aircrewsfrom the Perov and Nm air units comprise Czech

Armed Forces personnel scheduled for deploymentin Afghanistan, specifically as a part of the third andfourth rotation of the Czech HELI UNIT at Sharana baseand in the Air Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team(OMLT) in Kabul. The exercise is designed to trainhelicopter aircrews in mountain flights and mountainlandings at elevations exceeding two thousand metresabove sea level as well as take-offs and landings industy environments both day and night with night visiongoggles - NVGs, says Colonel Jaromr ebesta, theCzech force commander, and specifies that the flightpersonnel on one-seven-ones would be replacedhalfway through the exercise. Four aircrews slated for

the third rotation will be replaced with their colleaguesfrom the fourth contingent manning the HELI UNIT. Asa matter of fact, two rehearsals for Afghanistan willbe performed in a single helicopter exercise. I regardit a highly effective way to gain additional practicalexperience, COL ebesta stated.

AZOR 2010 was not a Czech-only event. The ArmedForces of Austria, Belgium, Italy, Slovenia, Sweden, theUnited Kingdom and Spain also sent helicopter units

with hardware for such specialised training. The grassapron at the Logrono-Agoncillo Main Operation Baseoffered a review of A-109, AB-212, NH-90, AS-332, AS-

532 or SH3-D Sea King rotary-wing aircraft.

JOINT PROJECT

AZOR 2010 International Exercise is one of theoutcomes of a close cooperation between the North

Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union.According to Vladimr ilhan, a defence advisor ofthe Permanent Delegation of the Czech Republic inthe European Union, the lack of operationally usabletransport helicopters is one of the most critical shortfallsboth NATO and EU are tackling. In addition to that, theneed to upgrade the helicopter systems to standards

required for operations in challenging and dangerousenvironments is as important as training helicopteraircrews to be able to perform such operations. Asa part division of labour between NATO the EuropeanUnion, this area was assigned to the European Defence

Agency (EDA) to focus its primary efforts on, Vladimrilhan specifies and goes on to say: The EDA SteeringBoard in the format of Defence Ministers of participatingMember States endorsed the Helicopter Training Program(HTP) for aircrew training already in November 2009envisioning two helicopter exercises and a specialisedsymposium to be held on annual basis.

The historicallyfirst multinational helicopter exercise,which was conducted in a winter environment, had takenplace prior to the approval of the concept in March2009 in French Alps with participation of helicopters

and aircrews from Belgium, the Czech Republic, France,Hungary and Spain in French Alps in March 2009.

Beginning in 2011, the HTP document envisions totransition to organising two exercises a year. Spain,Italy, Sweden and Belgium have offered training areas

suitable for organising training events and Germanyvolunteered to arrange the simulation exercise. Thefocus of individual exercises should differ in order toprogressively practise as many operational proceduresas possible. While the exercise in Spain, for instance,accentuated individual aircrew training, the effortin Italy is to practise joint tactics, techniques andprocedures for support helicopters and multinationalmissions performed by various types of rotary wingaircraft together. The greatest challenge EDA seeks topursue as a part of planned exercises and symposiumsis work to progressively do away with differences in

effective nationalfl

ight standards, rules and procedureshaving a potential to hamper on combined operations bymultinational formations, Colonel ilhan says.

PeomTann



23/68

2121

With special emphasis on aircrew training, EDAruns a complementary activity the project of tacticalhelicopter simulation courses (designated InterimSynthetic Helicopter Tactics Course ISHTC), to beorganised in a matter of two to three next years accordingto curricula and tactics taught in the United Kingdom atthe UK Joint Helicopter Command. The project involvesthe United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Hungary,Slovenia, Sweden and Luxembourg. The EuropeanDefence Agency promised the Czech Republic to enjoythe highest priority in allocation of course slots this year

with respect to its urgent operational requirements.

THE CZECH HELICOPTER GROUP

San Gregorio is a training area located approximatelytwo hundred kilometres from Logrona. Helicopteraircrews fly dust here. Flight activities start at 9 a.m.and often last as late as till 4 a.m. In the preflight brief,each nation is allocated its three of four windows of the

day to perform missions in its assigned territory.In a moonscape-like area, rotor blades on two one-seven-ones and one thirty-fiver are just beginning tospin. Aircrews perform engine test and system check.Following a testing hover in ground effect to test correctpowerplant performance, they take turns to overfly tothe RWY and take positions in a row. Helicopter GroupCzech ready to take off direction runway three zero,captain of the lead machine reports. A couple of secondslater, all of them set off for the allocatedroute into one of the zones in the localmilitary training area. The number of

helicopters every nation may send toaction at a time is limited to three.There is a high quantity of machines

here for the exercise and the thing is to distribute theoperating areas among ourselves in an optimal manner,

Colonel ebesta elaborates.Meanwhile, each captain of the three Czechhelicopters chose his spot and starts practising

that involves several repeated landings andtake-offs in the dust.

Sure we are not going in for it withoutprepping ourselves. Flight personnel

have prepared themselves for thesespecific activities on a consistentbasis according to prescribed

methodology and San Gregorio isonly the finale. All of the pilots have

already flown a number of exercisesthat simulated dust back in the CzechRepublic. This years winter helped usin that sense. There was a good quantityof powder snow, which enabled us to

increase training intensity. The flyingis very similar, states the commander of Czech

Armed Forces helicopter contingent.What is peculiar about flying in the dust? Major

Robert P. offers the following description: In the

final stage of landing you are getting to altitudeof several metres at a, minimum speed. The pilotstill hangs on his reference point on the ground

and listens for the instructions by the gunner who

the zones in the localarea. The number of

nation may send tos m e o ree.quantity of machines

ere or the exercise anoperating areas among ou

Colonel ebesta elaborMeanwhile, eachelicopters cho

that involvestake-offs in

Surepreppin

have pspeci

asis

methoonly th

alreadya s m

Republicin that sof powde

increaseis very similar, sta

Armed Forces hel cohat is peculiar a

Robert P. offers the

nal stage of landiof several metres atstill hangs on his r

and listens or the in


24/68

2222

leans out of the door. The manoeuvre must be performedexactly according to relevant procedures. If you makea slightest mistake, you get packed at once and youlose visual contact with the ground. That may howeveronly last a limited period of time, generally one or twoseconds. Then the machine must safely transitioninto climb, get off the cloud and repeat landing. Thereis neither time for experimentation nor for waiting.Instances of undesired contact with the ground arefrequent. Practical experience of the helicopter captainand a concerted effort of the whole crew onboard is

what matters, says the experienced militar y pilot, whopresently fulfils operational assignment in OperationISAF in Afghanistan.

To complete the picture: the aircrew performs abouttwo landings on average in one flight window into dust in

various location of the Spanish training area.

AT NIGHT AND WITH GOGGLES

As a matter of fact, the above-mentioned exampleinvolving a single helicopter was not the most demandingepisode in exercise AZOR 2010. Landing of a pair of Mi-171Sh and flights with NVGs generated substantiallyhigher levels of adrenalin with involved persons.

On touch-down in group with both one-seven-onesgoing into the same spot at the same time, with fifty-metre clearance between their rotors, it is necessary tofollow the procedures that have a single primary focus not to endanger one another with the dust cloud.Each number two seeks to land before number one.

Although we have been training it all week long, there

is no stereotype, because every landing is unique. Wealso practise that one machine lands into the dust andthe other one provides cover from the air before possibleenemyfire. Although lessons our colleagues in the firstand second rotation in Afghanistan learnt conclude thatthey mostly land on paved areas, we must be ready for allcontingencies. While little mistakes may creep in here inSan Gregorio, it is not acceptable at Sharana. We mustbe in the right place at the right time, pilots of the 23rdHelicopter Air Force Base say in unison.

After familiarisation flights at day, two Mi-171Shaircrews are up for night flights using NVGs. Thereis a big difference between flying at day and at night.

Everything is based on the light conditions: if they aregood, pilots see near real-world picture in NVGs in grey

on a green background. Otherwise, it looks like spiltmilk, Captain Ladislav B. explains and points outsome specificities of night operations. The wingmanmust not let the lead lose, while he must observe thehorizontal and vertical separation limits. The leaderalways has to keep in mind that he has the second

machine at his back and manoeuvre accordingly. Wego together at 450 feet above the ground that hasa completely different profile than in the Czech Republicand it is therefore critical to perform all actions withdouble precision. The intake of dust at night is muchbigger than at day. The use of helicopter lights is alsocritical. If you get into a cloud, all the light emitted bythe chopper is reflected into the goggles and reducesits effectiveness, states squadron chief navigator,for whom the HELI UNIT in Afghanistan is already thefourth foreign tour.

DUS T LIKE SNOWSan Gregorio is the premiere event for the pilots of

thirty-fivers from Nm to fly in sandy environment.Some of them have already been through flying in Frenchmountain environment, but they have to gain additionalexperience prior to their upcoming deployment as anOMLT team. Regarding the conditions they will beperforming their mission in whilst in Afghanistan, wemust get the simulation as real as possible. In theCzech Republic, we are able to get as high as thirteenhundred metres, and here we fly from two up to threekilometres above sea level. And those are standard

flight operation altitudes for the Air OMLT flight effort.Areas around the Santa Cilia for mountain flying and invicinity of San Gregorio airbase for dusty flights in Spainare very close to reality on the ground in Afghanistan,

PeomTann



25/68

232

respect to the Czech helicopter contribution to ISAF,the associated priorities and requirements for trainingin dusty and mountain environments, we negotiated thepossibility to sendfifty-five personnel andfive helicoptersfor the exercise from the Czech Republic.

It was important for organising the logistic supportthat NATO and EU procedures and standards were alreadyvery close to each other and it was not a problem to

coordinate with NATO nations and EU member statesarmed forces officers. There is a single standard formfor logistic support used throughout the NATO Alliance.

A new form was specifically created here at Logrono,which did not differ substantially from the NATO form,so it was neither difficult nor time-consuming to fill themin, Major Dostalk expands.

The advantage for supporting the Czech helicopterunit was that Spain, acting as the host nation, provideda number of support elements. We only moved in basicmateriel, necessary helicopter spare parts and essentialprovisions to provide full maintenance and service, the

logistician adds.In terms of supporting the involved units logistically,the Czech units participation in the AZOR 2010international exercise reconfirmed that storing andtransporting necessary materiel using containers wasthe right way ahead. We will again seek to initiateprocurement of containers and suitable boxes ensuringa safe storage of movement-sensitive materiel, MAJDostalk says. Containers for storing and transportationare a standard in many NATO and EU member states,

which was also proven in the AZOR 2010 internationalhelicopter exercise.

by Pavel Lang and Jan Prochzkaphotos by Jan Kouba

concludes Major Petr Juraka, who has already servedone four-month tour at the Kabul International Airport.

Although procedures used for landing in sand andin dust are nearly identical, the experienced pilot ofthe 221st helicopter Squadron is happy with anyflightconducted. We have drilled landings in snow back in the

Czech Republic, but whilst here, helicopter captains areable to check on their own in many instances whethertheir chosen way would lead them to a touch-down in thedust or not. They can see immediately whether they havemastered it or not. Either they land safely on the groundor they have to take the helicopter out of the dust cloudusing instruments. It does not really matter whether youcomplete ten or twelve landings in an hour; the key is aneffective sequence of action.

B RILLIANT LOGISTIC S UPPORT

Officers in charge of logistic support, whose mission

was to ensure that helicopter aircrews and technicalpersonnel had all provisions necessary, were largelyinvolved in preparing for the exercise already from theinitial planning conference. Major Tobi Dostalk, whohas a long-standing experience with coordinating logisticsupport to helicopter units, has been involved in all keyphases of preparations. Preparations for the exercisehave been underway already from December last year,

when initial discussions took place in Brussels. Accordingto initial exercise intent, the attendance on the exercise

was to involve nine nations with nearlyfifty helicoptersand eight hundred personnel in total, said Major

Dostalk at the Spanish airbase and commented on theCzech participation: At the main planning conferenceheld already here at Logroo, we were told that our limit

would be fifty personnel and three helicopters. With


26/68

24

C

n

Pan

C

ontingency

Planning

The Czech representative at the NATO Headquarterscharged with crisis management is Mr. Miroslav ed.He engaged in CM back in the Czech Republic andcontinues to do so now as a defence attach of thePermanent Delegation of the Czech Republic in NATO atthe NATO Headquarters in Brussels. I carry on pursuingthe same issues as in my previous capacities; the

difference is that the current range of issues is broaderand on a more senior level. For instance, it encompassesnuclear planning and cyber defence, not from nationalMoD, but from international perspective, Miroslav edsays and specifies the targets of his activity.

In a slight overstatement, I would refer to myselfas an information service for the Ambassador of theCzech Republic in NATO. I prepare current positionsand proposals primarily for the ambassador regardingpossible activities the Czech Republic would take toresolve military crisis situations. My duties naturallyinvolve acting in several specialist working groups in the

International Staff. I consult positions and documentswith officials of the Czech Ministry of Defence, primarilywith the MoD Defence Policy and Strategy Division.

THE CZECH IN PUTThanks to openness of the Czech defence advisor, it

is possible to take a peak behind scenes. Any idea tobe pushed through demands a broader support on theplenum. It cannot be just a blind shot; that is not thename of the game here. In reality, it entails approvingposition by colleagues representing other nations, nomatter whether you achieve it through several days

presentation of the issue in a conference room or duringa coffee chat.It is solely up to you to win allies over to your side.

In a way, it is about diplomatic skills of the officer in

Emergencies may occuranytime and anywhere.

Apart from smalleraccidents, populationssuffer from more seriousemergencies and naturaldisasters. Organisationsinvolved in consequence

management followprocedures defined in crisis plans, not only on the level of municipalities, but alsoon the strategic political-military level: at NATO and the European Union.

Crisis ManagementCrisis ManagementBrussels styleBrussels style


27/68

25

question, Miroslav ed explains and states that thesubject matter area where the Czech Republic is able tooffer most to the Alliance is the defence against weaponsof mass destruction (CBRN defence). The recent NATO

Summit endorsed a policy document defi

ning NATOpriorities in this subject matter area for the upcomingperiod. Our proposals will be integrated into individualnations crisis management plans. The papers also bearthe CZ hallmark, the defence advisor relishes. Anotherexample is the Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiologicaland Nuclear Defence Centre of Excellence based in

Vykov, Czech Republic, and established July 1st, 2006,as a NATO training centre. Not everybody realises thatthe Vykov centre is NATOs principal expert advisor onCBRN defence. It is indeed the first NATO institution onmultinational basis to be located in the Czech Republicsterritory, emphasises M. ed and adds that by building

and operating the centre, certified by Allied CommandTransformation in Norfolk, U.S., the Czech Republicdelivers its commitments to enhance NATO nationsdefences.

NATO M ODEL OPERATIONEmergencies know no borders. In case an emergency

cannot be managed using local forces and assets, it ispossible to request international aid, including from theNorth Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Preparedness ofNATO crisis management bodies is regularly tested bythe means of procedural exercises conducted in fictive

geopolitical environment in a fictive state territory andmost frequently they seek to improve security situationof citizens in given country. Training is done real-timeusing a scenario with highly likely emergency and withoutactually deploying troops. The model operation is precededby several planning conferences of involved bodiesand agencies, including international humanitarianorganisations, our host says and points out the key crisisresponse manual the NCRS: NATO Crisis ResponseSystem. It is a manual assigning code designations tocrisis situations with subsequent measures to be takento manage the emergency successfully. This cook book

is valid for all NATO nations, he says and adds that eachof the nations contributes its part to the resolution ofthe crisis while declaring its time limits within which itsnational assigned forces and assets are able to deploy.

To complete the picture, it should be noted that themanual is not a constant document. Following on newthreats, it operatively responds with adequate measures.

The Czech defence advisor rejects the objection that itmay perhaps be too much theory and too little practice.In case of emergency, we have such arrangements inplace that guarantee delivery of the most effective aid.

At the point when domestic rescuer is no longer able to

manage the emergency, we will put his foreign colleaguesnext to him to help him cope.

by Pavel Lang and Jan Prochzkaphotos by Radko Janata


28/68

2626

InenoSuty

Internationa

lSecurity

A neat building in Penzingerstrasse No. 1113 inVienna houses both the Embassy of the Czech Republicand the Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic to the

UN, OSCE and other international organisations. Oneof the organisational components here is the militaryadvisors section, presently with a staff of two: ColonelLubor Koudelka and Mr. Vladimr Krka. Both these

The conception quite a considerable partof the public have of the Organization

for Security and Cooperation in Europe(OSCE) may be rather biased andincomplete. It is the worlds largestregional intergovernmental organisationthat focuses on security issues andassociates 56 states, thereby occupyinga prominent position in the Europeansecurity architecture, next to otherinternational organisations such as the

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, theEuropean Union and the United Nations.

The personnel serving at the OSCE alsoinclude employees of the Ministry ofDefence of the Czech Republic.

The conception quite a considerable partof the public have of the Organization

for Security and Cooperation in Europe

Caring for SecurityCaring for Securityand Cooperationand Cooperation


29/68

2727

Jordan, Afghanistan, Japan, Korea and Australia, thechief of military advisors section explains.

He underscores that the Czech Republic regards OSCEan important part of European security architecture andsupporting the OSCE activities is a high priority of theCzech Republics foreign policy.

Responsibilities of Lubor Koudelka, for whom Austriais the third service tour abroad after Liberia and Iraq,include deliberations associated with ConventionalForces in Europe Treaty (CFE-T) and Open Skies Treaty(OST).

The CFE-T, which provided the basis fordecommissioning an immense quantity of selectedkinds of conventional weapons in Europe, builds onthree preventive steps limitation of arms quantity, aninformation exchange system and verification system,that is checking correctness of provided information inthe form of inspections, he states and points out thatthe Russian Federation suspended all measures of theeffective and legally binding CFE Treaty two years ago

with its single-purpose law, which in practise meansnon-providing of Russian exchange information and notaccepting inspections in the Russian territory.

Other CFE-T signatories presently seek the ways outof this complicated situation caused by the unilateraland legally very disputable step Russia took, Col.Koudelka.

Contrarily, effective relations prevail in connectionwith the second document, also legally binding OpenSkies Treaty, which currently sees the participation of 34

employees of the MoD Defence Policy and StrategyDivision were sent into Vienna for a three-year tourassociated with activities in OSCE. Advisories, positionsand recommendations they develop are fully professional.

Those are highly erudite professional opinions that I canlean on during the discussions I am involved in, relishesthe Head of the Permanent Mission of the Czech Republicto the UN, OSCE and other international organisations,

Ambassador Veronika Kuchyov migolov, andadds: The Czech MoD sent very experienced and high-quality experts here and I highly appreciate that. I findcooperation with them absolutely seamless.

FIFTY-SIX SIGNATORIES

In the political-military field, the OSCE activitiesprimarily focus on confidence building and strengtheningsecurity cooperation among member states, includingarms control and disarmament, Col. Lubor Koudelkadescribes the mission of the international security

organisation that mostly associates European countries.Apart from states in Europe, those include Caucasian,Central Asian and the United States of America andCanada. Besides signatories, OSCE activities alsoinvolve the input from so-called Mediterranean and

Asian cooperation partners, including Egypt, Israel,


30/68

2828

state parties (the former Czechoslovakia ratified OST in1992 and Czech Republic has an obligation under OST toaccept on its territory up to four observation flights a yearand request as many observation flights over other statesterritories). Aerial monitoring is costly. It is not affordablefor every signatory to operate its own observation airplane,

which is also the Czech experience. Current discussionsin OSCE also entertain the creation of a joint observationaircraft fleet to be used by mutliple state parties, thehead of military advisors section expands.

DELIBERATIONS

IN THE HOFBURG PALACEThanks to openness of involved parties, there is

a unique opportunity to visit the OSCE headquarters inVienna. The scene is set by the former Imperial Palace,today premises housing the seat of the President of

Austria - the Hofburg. A part of the large premisesthere, specifically the Congress Center, has been madeavailable to the OSCE.

Having fulfilled security requirements, we maytake a look inside the main conference hall of theOrganisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe andseveral bilateral rooms. We have optimal provisionshere in Hofburg for all working meetings, Col. Koudelkaexplains and specifies that issues relating to CFE-Timplementation are deliberated usually once week inthe session of the Joint Consultative Group (JCG) andrelevant decisions associated with OST are taken oncea month in the format of the Open Skies Consultative

Commission (OSCC). In addition to deliberations, thereare countless additional meetings to coordinate jointpositions, or indeed practical measures by NATO nationsor European Union Member States.

InenoSuty

Internationa

lSecurity

Obviously, any discussions military or defenceadvisors are involved in at the OSCE must be preceded bya demanding preparation.

An in-depth knowledge of OSCE documents andtreaties, including amendments, is the minimum basisfor participation in discussions, Lubor Koudelka says.

Another level of skill is the art of compromise,because all OSCE decisions are adopted on the basisof consensus and, apart from CFE-T and OST relateddecisions, do not constitute legal obligation, but politicalcommitment. Trust me: this is not easy in the format offifty-six countries.

Disapproval by one of the signatories may block anydecision. Some states do not hesitate t

Czech Armed Forces Review 1-2010

Documents

Transcript of Czech Armed Forces Review 1-2010