Delivering the keynote at the Cerklje ob Krki military airfield on Tuesday, Pahor said that Slovenia was a safe country and that its military was a pillar of security.

Shortcomings may have been detected in its readiness, but the military still performs its duties perfectly, at home and abroad, he said.

The job of a soldier cannot compete with similar jobs, said Pahor, pointing to poor equipment. "However, it is encouraging that significant systemic changes are on the horizon after years of putting this off."

Slovenia needs to make strategic investments in national security systems, said the president, highlighting cyber threats as a demanding modern-day challenge.

It is safe to say that not all problems in this world can be resolved peacefully, although Slovenia will strive for that until the end. "In this case, Slovenia needs to be completely ready in all aspects."

Defence Minister Karl Erjavec underlined the importance of mutual trust, respect and loyalty in his address, saying that he would not allow that trust be shattered.

"And I will allow even less that somebody who is not trustworthy undermines the military's organisation by seeking refuge in politics, and wants to politicise the Slovenian military," Erjavec said days after the opposition Democrats (SDS) filed a motion to oust him in the wake of the dismissal of Force Commander Miha Škerbinc.

Chief of the General Staff, Major General Alenka Ermenc said Slovenia needed a well-equipped and trained military force to guarantee its own defence as well as to provide support to other players in the system of national security.

In 2017 and 2018 the force managed to stabilise the acquired level of development in some fields, she said. "However, the increase did not allow the needed breakthrough in development."

Shortage of staff is a problem that will grow only worse unless comprehensive systemic measures are introduced, she told the ceremony attended by Speaker Dejan Židan, a number of ministers and the representatives of veteran associations and religious communities.