On October 22, 2008 the Dutch Ambassador to Slovakia, his Excellency Rob Swartbol accompanied by the Defence Attaché, Lt Col Jan Korteweg visited the Armed Forces Academy in Liptovský Mikuláš.

    The Ambassador was given a briefing on the Armed Forces Academy, its aims, mission and structure as well as educational programme of the National Security Course. The main aim of his visit was to deliver the lecture on „Attitude of the Netherlands to NATO and European Defence Policy“ to students of the National Security Course, Senior Staff Officers’ Course and Academy’s departments and institutes representatives.

    Lecture of His Excellency Rob Swartbol was focused on new environment conditioned by process of globalization as a factor shaping the European countries’ military cooperation in terms of defence. Democratization of countries, information technologies and communication systems transformation as well as population movement were the main issues of the lecture. The Ambassador presented interests of the Netherlands in area of security policy, emphasized the need of investment in international organizations and partnership, advocacy of the interests within EU and development of its defence capacity and also highlighted the importance of cooperation.

    He answered the questions about public opinion and attitude to participation of the Netherlands in missions, financial planning and investment projects for defence, NATO and EU relationships, cooperation between military and civilian sectors, education and exchange of cadets and lecturers and also the questions about particular armed forces specialization.

    The Ambassador was welcomed by the Rector of the Armed Forces Academy, Brig. Gen. Assoc. Prof. Dipl. Eng. Miroslav Kelemen, Ph.D. who expressed his appreciation for superior cooperation between the Netherlands and Slovakia in area of military personnel’s education and training.