Erjavec Satisfied with Defence Ministry's Work in This Term
Defence Minister Karl Erjavec told the press in Novo Mesto on Tuesday that he was extremely satisfied with the ministry's work in the 2004-2008 term. He believes that in the last four years standards have been set that will also be valid in the future.
According to the minister, many steps forward have been made in this term in the development of the Slovenian Armed Forces and the Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, he said.
The ministry has successfully carried out the project of integrating the Slovenian army into NATO, fulfiled Slovenia's obligations regarding participation in international operations and increased the army's operative capacities, Erjavec said.
Erjavec highlighted participation in peacekeeping missions as one of biggest successes of the Slovenian Armed Forces. He noted that there were no casualties among Slovenian troops in these missions "even though from the statistical point of view there could have been."
This implies that the training and equipment of soldiers are on a really high level, Erjavec added.
Among the ministry's achievements, the minister also listed the sale of real estate that the army does not use, establishment of the registry of army apartments and good responding in cases of natural disasters.
He also stressed today that all the purchases of equipment carried out by the ministry's had been in line with the army's international obligations and its short- and long-term development plans. He noted that both plans had been endorsed by the parliament.
The army bought only as much equipment as needed and all purchases have been transparent, the minister added.
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