On September 18 first Defence Attaché of Slovenia Captain (Navy) Gorazd Bartol was accredited to Lithuania at a ceremony at the Ministry of National Defence. The official was welcomed in the new position by Vice Minister of National Defence Vytautas Umbrasas.
“Lithuania and Slovenia as NATO allies and regional partners have marked their 15th anniversary of NATO membership this year and both participate actively in the efforts to have stability in Europe and beyond. We are united by mutual values and interests. Today the security situation in Europe has become hard to predict, therefore we need to talk and cooperate even more and the job of defence attaché is very important for a closer defence cooperation of the countries,” Vice Minister of National Defence Vytautas Umbrasas said at the ceremony.
The officer was also welcomed by representatives of the ministry of National Defence and the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
The Defence Attaché of Slovenia to Lithuania, also appointed as defence attaché to Estonia, Latvia and Poland, will be based in Warsaw, Poland.
Captain (Navy) G. Bartol received military education at the Naval Academy in Split (Croatia), NATO Defense College in Rome. His previous positions include service at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, European Union Force, EUFOR, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and up to the current appointment – at the Defence Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces.
Slovenia, just like Lithuania and other EU countries seeking to deepen cooperation in security and defence area, takes part in the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) framework projects aimed at improving military mobility in Europe and strengthening logistical and military medical capabilities of EU member states. Slovenia is also an observer in the PESCO project led by Lithuania to develop EU rapid cyber response teams and ensure mutual assistance in cyber security area.
Photo credit: Giedrė Maksimovicz (MoD)
