COMPROTEX ’99 EXERCISE

Abstract

In November 1999, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary conducted the COMPROTEX ’99 Exercise, organized within the scope of the Partnership for Peace programme. The participants of the exercise also included some NATO member countries and other international organizations. Slovenia participated in the exercise with three units: the Ecological Laboratory with Mobile Unit, the Meteorological and Hydrological Mobile Unit, and the Regional RCB Protection Unit from Kranj. In accordance with the scenario of the exercise, based on a serious accident involving hazardous substances, the units demonstrated their readiness for joint response to such disasters. The equipment, readiness and performance of Slovene units were highly assessed by the host countries, with whom Slovenia has established cooperation by signing an Agreement on Cooperation in Protection against Natural and Manmade Disasters, as well as by international organizations. NATO representatives proposed that Slovenia prepare participating units for cooperation in international protection and rescue efforts in the event of actual disasters.