The Czech delegation led by First Deputy Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic Mr. Jiří Šedivý together with First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces BG Miroslav Žižka, Branch Forces Development and Operational Division Director BG Bohuslav Dvořák and Director of the Defence Planning and Strategic Devision Mr. Ivan Dvořák and other distinguished guests visited the JCBRN Defence COE on Tuesday 8 February 2010.

        The delegation was welcomed by the JCBRN Defence COE Director COL Zdeněk Čížek, who briefed the delegation on the COE mission, current manning, structure and ongoing process ensuring the NATO transformation process. The JCBRN Defence COE presented their main activities in CBRN defence.

        During the visit the Czech delegation met the Transformation Network Branch Chief Colonel Helmar Storm (ACT), who was executing the Periodic Assessment Visit at the Centre. They discussed the necessity of the establishment of the Reach-back and Fusion Centre in NATO and future possibility of the establishment such an element within the Centre. This topic is discussed among Allies and the JCBRN Defence COE is expecting the development of the debate during the April Steering Committee meeting, which will be held in April this year in Vyskov.

Author: CPT Ilona Bain