President Says Army Needs to Build on Personal Relations
The Slovenian Armed Forces have made significant progress over the last 15 years. Proof of this is the successful participation in various international peace-keeping missions, President Janez Drnovsek has said at a ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the Slovenian army.
Drnovsek stressed at the ceremony held at the army airport of Cerklje ob Krka that the Slovenia army will need to build on personal relations in the future.
According to the president, the army was conceived in dramatic circumstances, when Slovenia realised that it needed to gain military independence if the country wished to gain independence.
"Since then the Slovenian Armed Forces have been continually improving and preparing for modern threats," he said.
Modern threats are spread out around the world, which is why our country cannot isolate itself in defence, said Drnovsek.
He pointed to the danger of terrorism, adding that Slovenia was playing an equal role with other armies in combating this threat.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Karl Erjavec said that today was a holiday for all citizens of Slovenia. He echoed Drnovsek's words about the progress made by the Slovenian Armed Forces over the last 15 years.
"The army has developed to the extend that it can effectively carry out all tasks in NATO," Erjavec stressed.
Meanwhile, Army Chief-of-Staff, Major General Ladislav Lipic, said that the army has fulfilled most of its goals and has become comparable in quality with other armies in NATO.
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