Addressing the welcome ceremony, Slovenian Defence Minister Ljubica Jelusic said that today's event confirmed her country's status of maritime country.
"With our first ship as well as with out first warship Ankaran we have proved that Slovenia is a maritime country," Jelusic said upon the arrival of the Triglav vessel in Koper after it was delivered from the Black Sea city of Novorossiysk.
"Ankaran and Triglav are two naval ships on which the Slovenian flags will always be displayed," the minister said adding that the Slovenians are a nation with a long maritime tradition.
Triglav was built in a yard in Saint Petersburg in exchange for Russia's clearing debt owed to Slovenia, namely in exchange for the former Soviet Union's clearing debt to the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
This USD 50 million vessel of the Svetlyak class has also drawn criticism in Slovenia as opponents to this procurement claim that it is "a failed investment" and that buying this vessel with 24-knot speed and different types of weaponry for Slovenia is an irrational move.
The Slovenian defence ministry has countered that the ship will be deployed not only for the defence of the Slovenian territorial waters but will also be used in possible joint operations within NATO and the United Nations and in cleaning the sea-water in the event of ecological disasters and in rescue operations.