Czech-Slovak air cooperation signed in Brussels

The Czech and Slovak ministers of defence have signed an agreement covering the joint protection of their airspace. The agreement was signed in the margins of the NATO ministers meeting in Brussels on Wednesday. Czech defence minister Martin Stropnický said the cooperation should take effect from the middle of this year. The agreement allows pilots from either country to intervene and take action in the others airspace in the case of an emergency such as a terrorist attack or plane hijack. One country’s aircraft could also be sent into action if the others were grounded.