OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation hears experiences of Visegrad Group in promoting regional co-operation on military and defence

VIENNA, 7 March 2018 - Sound and constructive regional co-operation on military and defence matters can raise the effectiveness and efficiency of states’ capacities by pooling their resources and enhancing military research and development, said speakers at today’s OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation meeting in Vienna, held under Slovakia’s Chairmanship. The discussion focused on the work of the Visegrad Group (also known as the Visegrad Four (V4)), which, along with Slovakia, consists of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

“The Visegrad Group was established in 1991 with the aim to advance military, cultural, economic and energy co-operation,” said Ambassador Radomír Boháč, Chairperson of the Forum and Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the OSCE. “In the field of military, security and defence, the Visegrad Group has been serving as a platform for political consultations aimed at stimulating co-operation in various areas of common interest such as joint capabilities development, interoperability of the V4 Armed Forces and the defence industry.”

György Rábai, the Head of the Defence Policy Section at Hungary’s Defence Ministry said: “The Visegrad Four truly represents European values, infused with a Central European approach based on common sense, in relation to all the threats and challenges faced by our community: economic crises, population decline, terrorism, mass migration, geopolitical tensions and international conflicts. The Visegrad Four’s strategic objective in the defence domain remains unchanged: joint contribution to Euro-Atlantic and regional security by generating and projecting stability and developing military capabilities available both for the EU and NATO.”

Bohuš Kuchta, the Director of the International Relations Department at Slovakia’s Ministry of Defence said that today’s world faces multiple global challenges amid a changing global security environment. He said that regional co-operation, such as that within the Visegrad Group, is especially important in addressing these challenges.

“Increased regional co-operation in the field of defence and the military is one of the concepts that can lead to practical and effective outcomes with an added value for defence. It can also contribute to a stable security environment in Europe,” he said. “Slovakia will take over the Presidency of V4 from July 2018. This will be our next opportunity to further strengthen our co-operation, also in the field of security and defence, and to continue the work of the Hungarian Presidency.”

It was concluded by the speakers at the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation that regional co-operation initiatives contribute significantly to building trust and transparency in the OSCE area.