Address by the Minister of Defense, Dr. Anton Grizold, at the official opening of the PfP Language Training Center
Minister Cok, Diplomatic Corps, Mr. Mayor, Chief of the General
Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is our pleasure today to be able to open a new educational
institution, which is not only significant for the Ministry of Defense
and the Republic of Slovenia, but also internationally. Since 1994
Slovenia has been actively participating in the PfP Program. With an
establishment of the PfP Language Training Center Slovenia whishes to
give another meaningful and concrete contribution to this initiative.
Slovenia's efforts towards NATO membership are not declarative
only, but are manifested through specific forms of participation in
the Partnership for Peace program. Slovenia is not only increasing its
participation in NATO-led peace support operations. As a future member
of the Alliance, Slovenia wants to contribute to other areas of
cooperation. We are aware of our advantages which are scientific,
educational, technological and logistic capabilities, rather than
military. We are particularly proud of being able to offer excellent
language education to other PfP members. Appropriate comprehension and
communication skills - for the majority in a foreign language - serve
as a basis for successful cooperation in such a military and political
alliance as NATO.
Integration into western European military establishments requires
equality not only in knowledge and technology, but also in
understanding and thinking. NATO expects from its candidates
interoperability in the following areas: language, thinking and
intellectuality. This means perfect command of the language for
interactive communication purposes and commanding, the understanding
of thought patterns, and a high level of military professional and
other expertise. In particular in the area of providing language
interoperability with NATO, Slovenia has achieved a lot.
Our efforts to reorganize the Slovenian Armed Forces into a small,
modern and effective armed force, which will be capable of providing
military and defense elements of national security and, at the same
time, of successful integration into international organizations,
depend on adequate personnel structure.
We need competent and highly trained officers and non-commissioned
officers as well as civilian staff for who foreign languages are not a
barrier, but an asset. We are aware that the interoperability of
operations and procedures also requires adequate comprehension and
communication skills. Therefore we are aiming our efforts into
increased language fluency of our servicemembers in English, French,
German and Italian.
Since 1994, when ESP courses were first started, the School of
Foreign Languages has been developing various language courses,
preparing their own English professional language material, conducting
testing according to the Slovenian military standard STANAG 6001, and
providing teacher training for international ESP teachers. In
particular the latter and the quality of the language training were
recognized in the international environment. In 1999, the school
started with procedures necessary for part of its activities to be
recognized as a PfP Language Training Center in accordance with the
Concept in place.
In accordance with the guidelines which were adopted at the NATO
summit meetings in Madrid and Washington, and NATO's Training and
Education Enhancement Program, the PfP Language Training Center was
established and approved by the North Atlantic Council last year in
July. This is the first and currently only language center of this
kind among nine PfP training centers.
When the idea for such a center was launched, we thought about
finding an appropriate location. We decided for Primorsko, more
precisely Ajsevica. Looking at these beautifully renovated and
modernly equipped training and accommodation facilities in this
pleasant environment, I am convinced that our choice was right. The
renovated facilities, in particular the activities that will take
place here, will be a great benefit to Ajsevica. In addition, Slovenia
and Primorsko have gained a respectable institution which will be also
known abroad. At the same time, it will provide an excellent tool to
further increase the cooperation with similar civilian and military
institutions in Slovenia and abroad.
I would particularly like to stress that we are very appreciative
of the versatile supported offered by the United States of America and
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, through the
financial and professional participation of the Defense Language
Institute in Texas and the British Council.
Our joint efforts to reorganize and modernize the defense system
and in particular the Slovenian Armed Forces are in full force. The
first results are already obvious. An indicator of excellence which we
hope to achieve in all areas of the defense system is the successful
start of the PfP Language Training Center which today found its
home. This project is a result of tremendous efforts of the staff and
the head of the School of Foreign Languages at the Military Education
Center, Mr. Valter Mavric. Despite several obstacles their efforts
bore fruit, and the idea has been realized. I am, therefore,
expressing my thanks and acknowledgment to them on behalf of the
Ministry of Defense.
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