Stavridis thanked Jelusic for Slovenia's participation in the ISAF operation in Afghanistan, which he said was currently the most important crisis response operation within NATO. He also backed Slovenia's efforts for stabilisation in the Western Balkans.
The minister briefed the NATO official on the priorities and goals of the Slovenian Armed Forces' transformation in time of economic turmoil and Slovenia's views on its participation in international operations and missions.
She noted that Slovenia maintained continuous presence of its troops and experts in the KFOR mission in Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina, while also developing other bilateral activities affecting stability in this part of Europe.
She reassured him of Slovenia's further assistance in the ISAF operation, where she believes a great number of civilian experts and other capacities to help the civilian population would need to be included in the peace efforts in the future.
Stavridis also took part in a working meeting of a group of experts involved in the preparations of NATO's new strategic concept. He will visit the Vrhnika army barracks on Friday at the invitation of Chief-of-Staff, Maj-Gen Alojz Steiner, to see a presentation of the Slovenian army's capabilities.
The Slovenian army is currently also hosting the chairman of the NATO Military Committee, whom Minister Jelusic presented Slovenia's contribution in Afghanistan and promotion of comprehensive capacities for the country, including civilian programmes.
The pair also touched on the situation in the Western Balkans, noting that the alliance should leave its door open for all those countries in the region which would wish to join the alliance.
Di Paola praised the Slovenian army's capacities, in particular the equipment, organisation and the working conditions in the renovated military academy building in Maribor which he visited today.
Admiral Di Paola will attend a seminar on NATO's new comprehensive strategy at Brdo pri Kranju on Friday.
