(PODCETRTEK) - Current EU president Slovenia urged the Western Balkan states Saturday to reform their defence systems in a "realistic" way, as they seek to adapt to changing threats.

"The main problem is the way in which reforms should be planned. Realistic plans have to be made," Defence Minister Karl Erjavec told journalists after an informal meeting of defence ministers and state secretaries from Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

The two-day meeting in the western Slovenian resort of Podcetrtek, was part of Slovenia's agenda to promote the integration of the Western Balkans during its six-month presidency of the European Union.

"The kind of threats (we have to face) change continuously," said Erjavec.

He added it would be unrealistic for small countries like Slovenia and Montenegro "to plan air policing by itself or buy its own jet fighters."

"It is clear that little countries like Slovenia and most of the Balkan states will never buy big transport airplanes," Erjavec said, suggesting that these needs could be met through closer ties with NATO.

Slovenia, which declared independence in 1991, was the first former Yugoslav state to join the European Union and NATO in 2004.

Obstacles of a "political nature" and large stocks of old weapons that no longer meet the requirements of modern armies in states like Macedonia, Serbia or Bosnia, also represented further barriers, he said.

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