From May 15 to 18, 2025, the meeting of the
Importance of the Conference for SZVvZ
Participation in the international GIE platform is of great importance for SZVvZ. It allows for strengthening international relations and sharing experience with partners from other countries in the fields of defense, military-sport training, and work with military reserves. The signing of a cooperation agreement with the Italian organization UNUCI is a concrete step toward deepening cooperation, organizing joint projects, and strengthening public defense awareness. It also confirms that Slovakia is considered a respected partner in this area internationally. The conference further provided SZVvZ with an opportunity to present its own initiatives in the field of population resilience and military-sport activities, which is important for the development and promotion of the association both domestically and abroad.
Opening and Expert Program
The conference was officially opened in the presence of representatives of the Slovak Armed Forces, the Armed Forces Academy, local authorities, and SZVvZ. Opening remarks were delivered by:
- Brig. Gen. Marek Banas, Chief of the Operational Planning Staff of the General Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces
- Col. Jaroslav Kompan, PhD., Vice-Rector of the Armed Forces Academy
- Ing. Ján Blcháč, PhD., Mayor of Liptovský Mikuláš
- Lt. Col. (ret.) Ladislav Balázs, Vice President of SZVvZ
The expert conference program on May 16 consisted of a series of presentations aimed at strengthening population resilience. Contributions were delivered by:
- Col. Jaroslav Kompan, PhD. – perspective from the field of military education
- Brig. Gen. Marek Banas – societal resilience in crisis situations such as pandemics, floods, or SLAK events
- Dr. Urban Rusnák, PhD., former Ambassador of Slovakia – experiences from diplomatic missions and the impacts of hybrid threats
The conference also included national presentations of the individual GIE member countries, the signing of a cooperation agreement between SZVvZ and the Italian association UNUCI, and a tour of the training and simulation center of the Armed Forces Academy.
International Participation
Delegations from 13 countries took part in the meeting: Slovakia, Albania, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova (excused), Germany, Poland, Romania, Italy, North Macedonia (excused), Switzerland (excused) and Slovenia. The Slovak delegation was led by Lt. Col. (ret.) Ladislav Balázs and Capt. (ret.) Michal Kvanta.
Excursions and Accompanying Program
Participants visited the Armed Forces Academy’s military simulation center and took part in a professional excursion to the Slovak National Uprising Museum in Banská Bystrica, where they honored the memory of the fallen by laying wreaths in the presence of BG. Norbert Hríb from the Joint Operations Command of the Slovak Armed Forces.
Conclusion and Outlook
The meeting resulted in the approval of the summary report from the GIE-II 2024 meeting in Brno. The summary report from Liptovský Mikuláš will be submitted for approval at the autumn session in Slovenia. Future GIE meetings are scheduled for May 2026 in Germany and October 2026 in Albania.