Kalinak: Slovakia and Brazil Plan to Build Intense Relations in Area of Defence

Brasilia, December 11 (TASR-correspondent) - The signing of an inter-governmental agreement on defence cooperation between Slovakia and Brazil marks the beginning of relations that the two countries want to build intensively, said Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) on Wednesday. As part of a Slovak delegation led by Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD), Kalinak met Brazilian Vice-president Geraldo Alckmin and signed several inter-governmental agreements and memoranda in the Brazilian capital on Tuesday (December 10). He also held bilateral talks with his Brazilian counterpart Jose Mucio. "I think that both the Brazilian and Slovak industrial bases can offer a huge amount of experience, what we are strong in, what we are good at," said Kalinak. According to him, Brazil is interested, for example, in Slovakia's activities and know-how in the field of ammunition production. The Slovak defence industry is also strong in the production of howitzers, which it will strive to supply to Brazil as well, said the minister. The agreement on defence cooperation also includes the possible training of soldiers in a partner country, which would mean new experiences for them. In Brazil, Kalinak also signed a memorandum of interest in buying for the Slovak army modern C 390 transport aircraft manufactured by Brazilian company Embraer. "Whether we really buy them or not will depend on individual conditions. We haven't yet discussed the price or the parameters that are necessary to make it happen. We just stated that we view this aircraft as the most suitable for us," explained the minister. According to Kalinak, these aircraft would be much better quality than the ones owned by the Slovak army at the moment, and they would be ultimately cheaper to operate as well. "We're going to visit the Embraer factory, and then we'll start considering how to approach this business deal," added Kalinak. Kalinak said that Slovakia is interested in buying three aircraft for regular operations and one that would be kept in reserve. The basic price is some €80 million, but this would be definitely increase due to the required equipment. The aircraft would have to be adapted to fit NATO standards, and, in addition, modules could be added so that the aircraft could serve various purposes, from normal transport to a mobile intensive care unit. Other countries have paid from €150 to 220 million per plane, noted the minister. ko/df