Defense Minister Acknowledges Controversy Over Military Equipment Plans in Protected National Parks

Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák acknowledged that plans to install military equipment and radar systems in the Poloniny and Vihorlat national parks will likely spark disputes with environmental protection groups. Kaliňák admitted he expects conservationists to oppose the military installations in these protected natural areas. The Poloniny National Park, located along Slovakia's border with Poland and Ukraine, is known for its pristine wilderness and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Carpathian Beech Forests. The Vihorlat Mountains contain another protected landscape area in eastern Slovakia. The minister's comments suggest the government is moving forward with defense infrastructure projects that could conflict with environmental protection priorities in some of the country's most ecologically sensitive regions.