Visit to barracks of the Slovene Navy
Ankaran, 10/27/2006 | press release
President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Slovene Army Dr. Janez Drnovšek, together with Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Albin Gutman, visited the barracks of the Slovene Navy in Ankaran, where he was received with military honours.
Captain Renato Petrič, commandant of Slovene Army forces, presented the Slovene Army to the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Slovene Army Dr. Janez Drnovšek, covering its transformation, plans for the future, and highlighting in particular activities in crisis response operations and current tasks that the Slovene Army is carrying out, with a stress on the 10th Motorised Battalion (MOTB). More than 300 Slovene soldiers are currently taking part in such operations: in Bosnia & Herzegovina, in Kosovo, in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Congo and two observers in the Lebanon. Captain Petrič also said that the 10th MOTB and other units that support it are leaving during the coming days for one month's final training at the exercise area of Varplota in Hungary. At the final training, a judgement will be made on the fitness of the 10th MOTB to cooperate in crisis response operations. It will be leaving for a mission in Kosovo next year.
Frigate Captain Ivan Žnidar continued the presentation by presenting the 430th Maritime Division (MD); its creation, roles and tasks, organisation and education and training of members. In particular, he presented the equipment, stressing the fast patrol boat "Ankaran".
After the presentations, President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Slovene Army Dr. Janez Drnovšek thanked them for an exhaustive and interesting presentation. He said that he had a good impression of the development of the Slovene Army, that it is achieving the aims set for it. Similarly, organisational changes are underway in the Slovene Army that will enable it to take part in crisis response operations. Dr. Janez Drnovšek said that the education and training undergone by members of the Slovene Army are giving the expected results. He stressed the important role of the 10th MOTB, which will reach final operational capacity in November and leave for a mission abroad at the start of next year. He concluded by saying that the Slovene Army is operating solidly within the framework of the given possibilities and by expressing satisfaction with his visit.
At the conclusion of the presentation, President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Slovene Army, Dr. Janez Drnovšek, together with Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Albin Gutman and Captain Renato Petrič, inspected the equipment of the 430rd MD, and Slovene sailors took them into Koper Bay between Ankaran and Izola on the fast patrol boat Ankaran.