Since it was founded 20 years ago, the 430th Naval Division has developed into a "stable and organised unit, and an important segment of the Slovenian Armed Forces", Osterman stressed.

He also underlined the contribution of the Slovenian naval unit in international training and exercises, where he said a milestone was last year's multilateral naval exercise of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative Adrion Livex, which took place in Slovenia.

Among the challenges for 2013, Osterman listed underwater demining training, consolidation of the naval operative centre and reaching full operational capacities of the underwater demining crew and the Triglav multi-purpose battleship.

On the international level, the highlights of the year, according to Osterman, will be the Adrion Livex 2013 international exercise in Greece and continuing bilateral cooperation with the Croatian and Montenegrin navies.

Military decorations and new ranks were also conferred to members of the division at today's ceremony.