WEBVTT

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Dear journalists and other media
representatives, welcome

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to today's press conference
in the wake of the first regular

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meeting of the National Security
Council during the present term.

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We're joined by Prime Minister
Golob, who also chairs the Council,

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and by President Pahor.

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The broad security situation
due to Russia's aggression

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against Ukraine was the topic.
Prime Minister Golob will now

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tell you more.

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Thank you and hello.
Mr. President.

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Today, we had
the first regular meeting

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of the strategic Council
for National Security

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in its new composition.
We invited all the party heads,

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the leadership
of the National Assembly,

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and the President.

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The debate was about the effect
of the Russian aggression

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on the security situation
in Slovenia.

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The debate was assisted
by briefers.

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We examined the situation
in both Ukraine and Slovenia

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in all the relevant areas,
from foreign policy

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to legal matters, domestic policy,
infrastructure, and intelligence.

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The good news is that,
here in Slovenia,

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we haven't seen
any increased risk.

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Of course, the situation
in Ukraine is truly critical,

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as you know. It has been
especially critical since

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the beginning of systematic
Russian attacks

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on civilian and
energy infrastructure.

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They're no longer going
after military targets.

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Instead, they want to deplete
the will of the Ukrainians

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to defend themselves and exhaust
the Ukrainian state.

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Finally, we unanimously
passed a resolution

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that we've familiarized ourselves
with the situation

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and came to a joint
conclusion

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that as long as Ukrainian
people have the will

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to defend themselves,
it is our obligation

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to support them.

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We have no right to force
them to accept solutions

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that they do not accept.

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The President and I agree
that it's important

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for this message to be sent
unanimously,

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on behalf of Slovenia's entire
political arena

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and all branches
of government.

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It gives the maximum support
to all the efforts

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of Ukraine and the Ukrainian
people.

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Thank you. We'll now give the floor
to President Pahor.

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I'll begin by stating
that the actions

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of the Slovenian government
are appropriate

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both domestically and
internationally, especially

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within the EU and the West,
of which we are a part.

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I feel it's important that we take
steps to maintain internal

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political unity in how we view
Russia's aggression

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against Ukraine, and to be a part
of a unified Western world

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in how we're facing these security,
political, economic,

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and other threats.

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The Prime Minister mentioned
an important message,

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which we're repeating in the wake
of the National Security Council

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meeting: As long as the people
of Ukraine and their government

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have the will to exercise
their right to self defense,

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we have no right to impose
peace at all cost

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against their will.

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We feel that this unanimous
opinion is important

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because it's very human
to ask ourselves

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how and when we can resolve
the war using peaceful means.

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We can do that when
the Ukrainian people

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and their legitimate
leadership make that decision.

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Thank you very much. We'll take
two questions on this topic,

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which is crucial for Slovenia,
Europe, and the world.

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Please introduce yourself
and state for whom

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your question is intended.

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Metka Majer, POP TV.

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Since members of the opposition
were present here:

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Before the meeting, the head
of the SDS stated

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that he would point out
the differences

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between your words and the votes
of the coalition's MEPs,

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which he sees as pro-Russian.
Have you discussed that?

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Regarding the opposition,
since Mr. Tonin attended

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the meeting, and he is the former
Minister of Defense,

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did you discuss any differences
regarding the procurement contracts?

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Thank you for the question.
I'll give a straightforward answer.

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We were unanimous today.

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There were no differences
among our conclusions,

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be it from the coalition,
the opposition, the government,

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the National Assembly,
or the President.

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This message of unity
is the most important.

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We debated some of these
different views, if you will.

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I believe that the
true situation is much less...

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that these views are more
coordinated than they may seem.

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Of course, everyone is entitled
to their own opinion.

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As for Slovenia's policies,

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they don't depend on individual
MEPs, but rather on institutions.

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The policy of this government
has been consistent.

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We've always put it up for a vote
in the National Assembly,

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where we've always received
unanimous support.

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I believe we must and will remain
united here in Slovenia.

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It wouldn't make sense to comment
on anything else,

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because individuals are individuals,
while we represent the country,

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and this is what counts.
-President Pahor,

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anything you'd like
to add? -No thanks.

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A question from Gašper Lubej,
Al Jazeera.

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Hello. I'd like to know
when the government

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will decide on the mission
to Ukraine

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and what form
that cooperation will take.

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I'm thinking of the EU mission,
the EUAM mission.

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The government has decided
to send this to Parliament,

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so when will it be finalized
and in what form?

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As you mentioned, the government
has already taken positions

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regarding this matter. Slovenia
is determined to take part.

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To clarify this for the public,
we're talking

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about a training program
for the Ukrainian forces

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that isn't taking place in Slovenia.
It will take place elsewhere.

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The other details will be
coordinated with our allies.

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I'm confident that the Parliament
will confirm this.

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I can't tell you when
this will happen.

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The Government will look at this
before it returns to Parliament...

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The Government will approve this,
but we're waiting for the procedure

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to be completed, and we're not
seeing any obstacles on this path.

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We're determined to join
our European allies

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and participate in this mission
as an equal member.

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Thank you both
for joining us. -Thank you.

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And now...

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The Prime Minister will answer
these questions in the days ahead.

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We'll now be joined by the head
of NSi, Matej Tonin.

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We're waiting for him.

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Go ahead, Mr. Tonin.

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The middle podium
is yours.

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Hello. The meeting of the
National Security Council

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was useful in my view.

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We exchanged views and opinions
of the current situation

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in Ukraine and the role of Slovenia
in regard to Ukraine.

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I'm happy that we came
to a unanimous conclusion

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that we have a moral duty
to support Ukraine

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in its efforts to preserve
its independence.

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This is our key message.

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Even though we have recently
seen, even in Slovenia,

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the emergence of various narratives
calling for the warring parties

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to take part in negotiations,

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this isn't as simple as some
imagine it to be.

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Stated very directly, if Ukraine
stops fighting,

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we'll be faced with
capitulaton,

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but if Russia stops fighting,
we'll have peace.

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That's why we need to work
for peace

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and support Ukraine
as best we can.

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Only when Russia realizes that
it can no longer

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obtain any military advantages
will there by the diplomatic

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readiness for a peace treaty
and a permanent peace.

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I'm glad that Slovenia
will do its best

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in terms of military equipment,
technology, and financial support.

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Thank you. Any questions?
Metka.

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To the microphone, if you will.

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If you were in the government,
do you think Slovenia should do

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more to help Ukraine? Would you
call for some

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additional activity? My second
question is a political one.

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Correct me if I'm wrong, but for
the first time

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since you urged the SDS head
to step aside and your party

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indicated its lack of confidence
in him,

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you met with him for the first time.
What did that meeting look like?

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First, regarding the technical
and military help to Ukraine.

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I'm happy that this government
has continued

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to pursue the measures introduced
by the previous government.

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This government had the power
to stop the donation of BVPs,

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those 35 infantry vehicles.

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It could also have stopped
the donation of M-55S tanks,

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but the government has continued
all that, and the Ukrainians

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are grateful that we contributed
to their military power.

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In this regard, I'm happy
that this government

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has continued what we started.

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Frankly, even we wouldn't have been
able to do more

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because the Slovenian Armed Forces
don't have the resources

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to donate more than what
it has donated so far.

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You'll remember the various
readiness reviews

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with the President.

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The room to maneuver
beyond what Slovenia has given

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was limited, but I'm grateful
that this has happened.

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And the second question regarding
relations with SDS.

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I have nothing to add. I've said
everything I wanted to say,

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but your understanding
was incorrect.

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I've only spoken about the work
of NSi, while other parties

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is neither up to me
or up to NSi.

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Any other questions for Mr. Tonin?

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No? Then I'd like to thank
everyone for joining us

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and wish you a nice day.