The Czechs will participate in the General Staff of Atalanta

(B2) Three Czechs are expected to arrive this week at the HQ of EU NAVFOR Atalanta, the European anti-piracy operation, in Northwood (near London). Led by Lieutenant-Colonel Jozef Podoba, who has already participated in two international missions, the Czech team will also include Lieutenant-Colonel David Peter and Officer Lubomir Volny. They should stay six months at HQ and then be replaced by three other Czech officers.This is the first maritime operation of the Czech army. "A real challenge" explained Podoba before his departure, according to the Czech army website. "But also the opportunity to acquire new experience to work under EU operational command. (...) Of course, we had to prepare with an emphasis on maritime terminology".

(Photo :Ministerstvo obrany ČR)