On 10 June 2009, Brigadier General David Humar, Slovenian National Military Representative at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), signed the Note of Accession to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Framework Nations and SHAPE*. The ceremony took place in the presence of Lieutenant General Zdzisław Goral, Commander of Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE), Brigadier General Josef Heinrichs, Chief of Staff of MNC NE, several Headquarters representatives and Lieutenant Colonel S. Karba, Slovenian Defence Attaché to Germany.
General Goral welcomed the Slovenian guests and expressed his satisfaction with the growing Corps’ family that would soon comprise of already 11 member states. As General Humar admitted, the Slovenians were also looking forward to accomplish the process of accession and assured all the gathered that the first Slovenian servicemen would arrive in Baltic Barracks soon.
Signatures of the Slovenian representative and the Corps Committee members on the Note of Accession complete an important process on Slovenia’s way to become the 11th member state of the Multinational Corps Northeast. The next and, at the same time, the last step will be the actual arrival of Slovenian servicemen in the Baltic Barracks. Only then the Slovenian flag could be proudly raised to flutter along with ten other flags of the Corps member states.
Undoubtedly, Slovenia’s interest in the Corps is a proof of MNC NE incessant attractiveness. Multinational character of the Corps has been substantially evolving over the years. In the beginning, it was a common venture of just 3 countries – Denmark, Germany and Poland. However, 7 more countries decided to join in and send their servicemen to Baltic Barracks in Szczecin – the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Romania, and the United States. Consequently, Slovenia is going to be the 11th member state of the Corps. With each nation joining the Corps, the Corps community observes not only a new flag hoisted on a flagpole, but also gains valuable military experience, knowledge about a different culture and simply a friend.
*Full Name: Memorandum of Understanding between the Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Poland and the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Denmark and the Ministry of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe concerning the Manning, Funding and Support of the Headquarters Multinational Corps Northeast as the NATO Deployable Corps Northeast
Comments