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Germany becomes the 2016 Special Partner Nation
Germany has accepted the role of the 2016 NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days Special Partner Nation. Dr. Arndt Freiherr Freytag von Loringhoven, the German Ambassador to the Czech Republic, made the official announcement during a security seminar in Prague today.
“For us, it is a great honour that Germany agreed to be the Special Partner as we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the show,” says Zbyněk Pavlačík, head of Jagello 2000, main organizing agency.
As neighbours, the Czech Republic and Germany enjoy a long-time successful cooperation in many security fields, including the military, police, customs service, emergency, rescue and other agencies. “During our show, the visitors will be able to see many concrete examples of this bilateral cooperation. The German presentation will be the widest in the three-year history of NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days Special Partner Nation concept. We appreciate this scale since it will be a quite unique matter,“ adds Pavlačík.
The wide German participation fits into the so-called Strategic Dialogue concluded between the two countries last year with the defence being one of its topics.
“Germany appreciates the offer and is pleased to accept the role of the 2016 NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days Special Partner Nation. We see this as an opportunity to demonstrate Allied solidarity and partnership within NATO,” said H.E. Dr. Arndt Freiherr Freytag von Loringhoven, the German Ambassador in Prague, during a seminar on Euro-Atlantic Security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
In Ostrava, Germany plans to display as many as 8 security and safety forces and agencies. Representing the Bundeswehr will be the Army, the Air Force, the Navy and the Joint Support Service. Further participating agencies will include the police, customs service, the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) and the German Red Cross, combining for the overall complex presentation of the German security, safety and rescue system elements.
We can already announce a part of the concrete German presentation, namely that of the Land Forces. The Army will be displaying six pieces of its equipment – two Leopard tanks, the Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzer, the Bergepanzer 3 Büffel armoured recovery vehicle, the Panzerschnellbrücke 2 armoured launch bridge vehicle and the Marder infantry fighter vehicle. Still under discussion is a possible presentation of the Puma – a modern successor vehicle to Marder and of two most-advanced helicopters – the Tiger and the NH-90. These airplanes have not been displayed in the Czech Republic yet.
The Leopard and the Bergepanzer 3 Büffel will be presented in the dynamic displays, while the other Leopard will be displayed at the static park.
“We will be publishing details on additional agencies' participation gradually. The German presentation has not been finalized yet, but we can already say that our visitors have a lot to be excited about,” closes Pavlačík.
Germany is the third Special Partner Nation since this presentation concept started during the 2014 NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days when Poland debuted in this role. The 2015 edition then saw a multi-faceted presentation by Sweden.
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