Defence Minister Says Slovenia Needs Transport Plane, Denies Wrongdoing in PPE Purchase
STA, 15 April 2020 - The coronavirus crisis has shown Slovenia urgently needs a transport plane, Defence Minister Matej Tonin pointed out after Wednesday's videoconference of NATO defence ministers. "It has turned out that we can only rely on ourselves in these difficult times," he said.
The multi-purpose 1988 Turbolet L-410, which can transport both passengers and cargo, has done an excellent job in this crisis but a new solution must be found, Tonin pointed out.
The ministry has already initiated procedures, requested input from the military and formed a working group that will examine which option would be best: the purchase of a new transport plane, a donation agreement or a third option.
Tonin said he did not have a specific type of aircraft in mind yet, as he first wants to look at all the options.
He stressed that such an aircraft could not be purchased overnight. The government must first make a decision and then it may take up to three years for delivery.
NATO defence ministers today debated how to accelerate and strengthen coronavirus aid to member states. Several hundred tonnes of medical equipment has already been delivered in the framework of NATO.
Slovenia had requested aid in securing transport for protective gear and other supplies needed during the coronavirus epidemic via NATO's Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC).
Tonin said today the aid involved transporting protective equipment from China to Slovenia and assistance in evacuating infected troops from international missions.
The Agency for Commodities Reserves has signed a special agreement with Hisense, the Chinese owner of home appliances maker Gorenje, which will host a logistics centre for Slovenia at one of its locations in China.
Once enough equipment comes together, it will make sense to dispatch a place to transport it, according to Tonin.
But the minister said access to NATO's mechanisms was difficult and expensive. The bill for a return flight for a large transport aircraft that can carry 100 tonnes is EUR 1.2 million.
Tonin also said Slovenia had offered Italy assistance in the form of a medical team. Ten to fifteen Slovenian doctors have responded and the details are now being coordinated by civil protection services.
Tonin denies wrongdoing in protective gear purchases
STA, 15 April 2020 - Protective gear purchases have raised quite a lot of dust and could even become subject of a parliamentary inquiry. Defence Minister Matej Tonin told the press on Wednesday how he approached the matter amid a severe shortage of such equipment at the start of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Once it was clear that all established suppliers have failed to deliver, Tonin had intervened in three cases, contacting businessmen Joc Pečečnik and Janez Škrabec as well as UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin.
"In those most critical moments when medical staff was literally crying due to the shortage of protective gear, I called the three people whom I believe have enough contacts abroad to be able to help Slovenia get the equipment.
"All of them responded and helped Slovenia," Tonin said as he visited the 72nd Brigade of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) in Črnomelj today.
As to allegations that Pečečnik has overcharged the costs of transport, Tonin said it had been agreed that once all transport is completed, Pečečnik would draw the line to see if the transport was really overpaid and return the money, the defence minister explained.
Tonin has recently also come under fire after it became clear his mother works for a company which struck three deals with the state worth EUR 30 million for the procurement of protective gear.
Tonin at the time denied he or his mother having had anything to do with the deal and himself asked the anti-graft commission to investigate the matter to dispel any doubts.
Tonin was also asked today about a new SAF chief of the general staff after Alenka Ermenc was dismissed as of 17 March and her deputy took temporarily over. He said the candidate had already been chosen and would be announced in due time.
