Videoconference between the President and Slovenian soldiers abroad

Ljubljana, 13.5.2009  |  press release

The President of Slovenia and Commander-in-Chief of the Slovenian Armed Forces, Dr Danilo Türk, for the first time since Slovenia’s independence addressed Slovenian troops deployed in international operations and missions via videoconference. The President talked live via audio connection with members of the armed forces in Afghanistan and via video connection with those in Kosovo and the military representations in Brussels, Mons and Norfolk.

In his address, the President greeted all members of the Slovenian Armed Forces participating in missions and military representations abroad and congratulated them on Slovenian Armed Forces Day. The President said that we were celebrating Slovenia’s coming of age and the numerous achievements of the Slovenian Armed Forces, and that we thought a lot about the future. “The period in which our army was established and developed was a demanding period of numerous changes. In eighteen years, the army has seen the transformation from the Territorial Defence and recruitment system through accession to NATO, adjustment to its standards and gathering experience in peace-keeping missions, to the situation in which we can say that our armed forces are well-trained, enjoy international respect and are an important source of the security and international reputation of the Republic of Slovenia,” said the President.

The President and Commander-in-Chief commended the contribution that each member of the Slovenian Armed Forces had made to peace keeping missions abroad, expressed his thanks and also gave recognition to their families. He stressed that we should encourage the best possible relationship between our army and its environment and society as a whole. The President added that we need a professional, well-trained army that is highly integrated into our social endeavours.

The Minister of Defence, Dr. Ljubica Jelu¹iè, also addressed the members of the Slovenian Armed Forces; the videoconference continued with short presentations of the activities of the representatives of the armed forces in Afghanistan, Kosovo and military representations abroad. The President inquired about communication between Slovenian soldiers and local people in Afghanistan and Kosovo. They answered that Slovenian soldiers in Afghanistan are engaged in training and monitoring the Afghan army and relations with the local people are good. Relations with the local people in Kosovo are also very good, and the Slovenian armed forces enjoy a high reputation there. The President welcomed the initiative “Slovenian children to the children of Afghanistan”, started by girlfriends and wives of Slovenian soldiers deployed in Afghanistan, gathering humanitarian aid for Afghanistan.