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Immediate Release

Readout of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's Phone Call with Czech Minister of Defense Martin Stropnicky

Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby provided the following readout:

Secretary Hagel placed a phone call today to Czech Minister of Defense Martin Stropnicky to offer his condolences for the combat deaths in Afghanistan this week of four soldiers from the Czech Republic.

The secretary expressed his heartfelt sympathies -- and those of everyone in the Department of Defense -- for the families of the fallen. Secretary Hagel thanked the minister for the Czech Republic's contributions to the ISAF mission. He noted that these tragic deaths are a reminder of the still dangerous security environment in Afghanistan and the need for all Afghan and ISAF partners to stay equally committed to the mission.

Minister Stropnicky in turn thanked the medical team at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan for the support and care they are providing the Czech soldier who was injured in the attack.