Ljubljana - President Borut Pahor addressed Slovenian troops serving abroad in the annual pre-Christmas videoconference on Tuesday, thanking them for their contribution to Slovenia's international reputation and to maintaining peace and security worldwide.

As the supreme commander the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF), Pahor was briefed on the state on the ground by representatives of SAF rotations from Latvia, Mali, Iraq, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

They reported the situation in the areas of deployment was mostly peaceful. They also reported about the Covid situation in the respective regions and vaccine uptake among troops where some have already received booster jabs.

Some 270 SAF members serving abroad will spend Christmas and New Year holidays away from their families, keeping busy while also organising small events to mark Independence and Unity Day observed on 26 December.

Pahor congratulated the soldiers abroad for their excellent job. "Through your work you contribute to the reputation of our country and to global peace and security."

It was also because of the reputation of its troops that Slovenia "can again bid for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council with optimism", Pahor said, adding that he heard only positive feedback about Slovenian troops from his counterparts in the countries they serve in.

In light of Slovenia's 30th anniversary Pahor said Slovenia had an increasing number of friends and no enemies abroad and enjoyed high esteem in the countries where it had its presence.

He singled out Slovenia as the only country that marked friendship days with both the US and Russia, adding that Africa had become one of its priorities as well at last.

The videoconference at the Ministry of Defence was also attended by Minister Matej Tonin and Maj-Gen Robert Glavaš, the chief of the SAF general staff.

Tonin thanked the soldiers for their dedicated service to the homeland, noting his ministry had done a lot to improve the status of SAF members recently, including through better pay and launching the long-awaited modernisation.

"We all wish for [modernisation] to run as transparently, clearly and fast as possible," the minister said, thanking Pahor for his support in the implementation of the planned projects.