Czech Defence News of the Week (15th – 22nd March 2019)
Author: cpt. Jana Samcová, army.cz|Caption: Safeguard Temelín 2019
On 15th March the Czech Republic has commemorated the 80th anniversary of the occupation of the rests of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany (1939) - Following the terrorist attack in Christschurch, New Zealand, the Czech Police is investigating cases of approval of the crime expressed on the social media - On Monday 18th March the Ministry of Defence and KOBIT spol. s r.o. signed an agreement on deliveries of fuel containers - President Miloš Zeman: “Turkey is allied with the Islamic State” - On Friday 22nd March an anti-terrorist exercise „Safeguard Temelín 2019“ was concluded at the Temelin Nuclear Power Station in Southern Bohemia.
- On 15th March the Czech Republic has commemorated the 80th anniversary of the occupation of the rests of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany (1939), after the country had already lost large border regions due to the Munich treaty in September 1938. The occupation was followed by the establishment of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia which lasted for six years (1939-1945). The commemorative programs included many ceremonies and rememberance acts around the Republic, organized by the Ministry of Defence, Czechosloval Legionaries Association, the Senate and many other institutions.
See also: 50th Anniversary - Prague Spring Dream Crushed by Soviet Tracks (1968-2018)
- Following the terrorist attack in Christschurch, New Zealand, the Czech Police is investigating cases of approval of the crime expressed on the social media. According to the Minister of Interior Jan Hamáček the monitoring the situation begun immediately on Friday, 15th March. The Police President Colonel Jan Švejdar said that any expressions of agreement with terrorism, extremism or inciting hatred would not be tolerated. This is based on article 7 of the penal code, “principles of protection, principles of universality”, according to which various serious offenses committed abroad even by foreigners are deemed crimes by the Czech law.
- On Monday 18th March representatives of the Ministry of Defence and of the KOBIT spol. s r.o. company signed an agreement on deliveries of fuel containers for refuelling the vehicles of the Land Forces of the Czech Army. The containers will be used by the troops to refuel all types of vehicles by the different types of fuel in field conditions, during foreign deployments, and to support allied troops when on the terrotory of the Czech Republic. The new containers will replaced outdated means of refuelling and storage of fuel currently used in the military regions.
See also: Armoured Container Carriers - Army to acquire 61 vehicles (by Tatra Trucks)
- On Tuesday 19th March the President Miloš Zeman said that Turkey, despite seeking EU membership and being a NATO member country, is effectivelly allied with the Islamic State, and that evidence exists on Turkey trading with the extremists, and supporting them by logistical operations. Zeman also accused Turkish president Erdogan of islamization of his country which ceased to be a secular state under his rule, abandonning the policies up by Kemal Atatürk. Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denounced the clamis of Turkey being ally of the Islamic State saying the statement was false and insulting.
- On Friday 22nd March an anti-terrorist exercise „Safeguard Temelín 2019“ was concluded by the 25th Air Defence Missile Regiment, other army troops, police and employees at the Temelin Nuclear Power Station in Southern Bohemia. The exercise included a simulated situation of a kidnapped airplane trying to reach the power station and being shot down by the KUBs.
See also: Czech Army’s Modernization Projects: SHORAD/MSAM Air Defence Systems
Tags of article