NEWS

Prime Minister Borut Pahor visits Slovenian troops and policemen in Kosovo.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, today, along with the Minister of Defence Dr Ljubica Jelušič, and the Chief-of-Staff of the Slovenian Army Albin Gutman, visited the Slovenian troops and police deployed in KFOR, EULEX and UNMIK missions in Kosovo.

 

 

(Foto: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

 

 

During the visit, the Slovenian Prime Minister met with the KFOR Commander, Lieutenant General Emilio Gay in Priština, and afterwards proceeded to Peć, where he met with the commander of Multinational Task Forces – West, Brigadier General Giovanni Armentani, and the commander of the 18th contingent of the Slovenian Army, Major Tomaž Radoševič in the Italian base »Villagio Italia«. In Peć, Prime Minister Borut Pahor attended the ceremony on the Occasion of Independence and Unity Day of the Republic of Slovenia, and delivered an address to the Slovenian troops and police deployed in Kosovo.

 

 

 

 

(Foto: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

 

“Our homeland is celebrating its independence. This would have never been achieved, had not it been for our unity. To nations, particularly to minor ones, statehood is never granted. It should be fought for. Ours too,” stressed the Slovenian Prime Minister. Therefore, representatives of the Slovenian Armed Forces and the Police are the heirs of the most essential courage that was needed to defend with military force the newly declared Slovenian statehood. “You have every reason to be proud of that,” he added.

 

 

 

 

(Foto: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

 

According to the Prime Minister, though nowadays Slovenia is not at risk of military aggression, we still need a modern and efficient army: “Today you defend peace, security and stability beyond our borders. You defend the interests of the whole community that we belong to as a sovereign state. I am greatly pleased and honoured to hear praise of your commitment to these high goals.”

 

 

 

(Foto: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

 

The Prime Minister further pointed out the importance of the message carried by today’s celebration, according to which success in any great venture can only be achieved by joint forces and unity. He believes that in the future too Slovenia will be faced with circumstances that could be turned to its advantage if only we can manage to maintain unity. “In the political and military sense, these circumstances may not be as demanding as they used to be eighteen years ago. But nevertheless, they will be all the more demanding in terms of their economic and social implications.We can win, i.e. successfully overcome the crisis and advance into the group of most developed countries that show solidarity with other countries, as long as we can rely on each other. We do depend on each other and we need each other,” stressed Prime Minister Borut Pahor.