Cabinet approves expansion of Czech military's missions

The Czech government approved today the deployment of about 270 further soldiers to Iraq, Afghanistan and Mali this year, the Government Office press section has told CTK. The Defence Ministry's proposal also includes the plan of foreign missions for the next two years. Soldiers are to take part in the same missions as at present and should also begin to police the airspace of the Baltic region. The reinforced foreign operations would incur costs of 2.1-2.4 billion crowns annually.