Minister Fajon at 20th Bled Strategic Forum: Diplomacy must serve people, not power

Minister Fajon began her introductory speech by pointing out that "Twenty years ago, Slovenia launched the Bled Strategic Forum, guided by the idea that diplomacy must serve people, not power. This belief resonates even more urgently today. In such turbulent times, we need steady anchors: the rule of law, shared solidarity and moral conscience. Slovenia strives to respect these principles.”

The Minister went on to recall that Slovenia, as a member of the EU, NATO and the UN Security Council, is not merely an observer on the global stage but an active member which believes that peace can be achieved through diplomacy, justice through respect for the law and security through cooperation. She presented three examples that demonstrate Slovenia's commitment to peace:

1. Ukraine – Slovenia firmly supports its right to a free and sovereign future. “Together with our European and transatlantic partners, we will continue to provide long-term security, reconstruction support and a clear path to EU membership, as the future of Ukraine is also the future of Europe.”
2. Gaza – “Slovenia recognised the State of Palestine, as we believe that the two-state solution is the only way forward. Two extremist Israeli ministers were declared personae non grata in Slovenia, which also imposed an embargo on the import, export and transit of arms to and from Israel and prohibited the import of goods originating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.”
3. Western Balkans – Slovenia consistently refers to EU enlargement as a geostrategic necessity. The region must pursue reforms that strengthen democracy, the rule of law and human rights, while the EU must honour its commitments. “Slovenia remains committed to fostering dialogue and advancing a future where the Western Balkans, alongside Ukraine and Moldova, are fully integrated into Europe.”

Minister Fajon also spoke about the dangers of disinformation, foreign interference and the misuse of artificial intelligence, all of which erode trust, distort reality and weaken democratic institutions. She underlined that, in order to resolve global crises, we must unite Europe and NATO allies, establish effective multilateralism led by the UN Security Council which takes decisive action, and consistently respect international law, without double standards.

The participants were also addressed by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar: “25 years ago, the EU adopted the slogan ‘United in diversity’. Today, however, I fear that we are nowhere near fulfilling this commitment. Instead of unity, we are drifting towards disunity. Is this how we wish to cooperate and compete with the superpowers? I hope not. I hope that Europe will become a respected player on the global stage. I hope that geopolitical decisions affecting Europe are not and will not be taken without Europe. And I hope that Europe will continue to stand firm on the central principle of ending the war of aggression against Ukraine: that no decision on Ukraine's future is taken without Ukraine.” 

Before the start of the first panel entitled “The Bled Pledge: A Dream or Reality?”, European Council President António Costa addressed the assembled guests: “The EU stands for a world where peace is protected, partnerships are genuine and the principles of the United Nations Charter are upheld – not just in words, but also through action. The EU is a community of values. A project of peace and prosperity that is not yet complete. The Western Balkan countries are at the heart of Europe and a part of its future.”

This year's Bled Strategic Forum Distinguished Partner 2025 award is dedicated to all journalists who lost their lives while reporting from war and conflict zones – for their courage and sacrifice, which remind us that the fight for media freedom is inextricably linked to the fight for truth, democracy and peace. Maja Sever, President of the European Federation of Journalists, accepted the award on their behalf with a video message. On the occasion of the anniversary edition of the Forum, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs presented a special award to the founder of the Bled Strategic Forum, former Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel. The Ministry also awarded recognitions to all former secretaries-general of the Forum.

As every year in Bled, Minister Tanja Fajon held numerous bilateral meetings with her colleagues, foreign ministers and senior EU representatives. On the first day, she hosted a discussion on decency in politics with invited women leaders, held a meeting with Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Sikela and Kosovo's Foreign Minister Donika Gërwalla-Schwarz.

The Bled Strategic Forum is particularly valuable as an established, recognised, and yet sufficiently dynamic and flexible international platform enabling an open exchange of opinions, views and experiences at a high political and professional level among a wide range of actors. At the same time, it is widely recognised as the leading international conference in Central and South-Eastern Europe, as the statistics clearly indicate. This year, the Forum brings together more than 50 countries, 2,000 participants, 45 young leaders and 185 panellists and speakers in more than 30 high-level panels.

In addition, the Bled Strategic Forum is a unique brand, the most powerful tool of our soft power. Held in one of the most beautiful places in Slovenia, the event serves to promote Slovenia as a green and environmentally conscious country. It also offers a platform for promoting our views and perspective on the world and reflects our successful, principled and responsible foreign policy in recent years. Slovenia is transforming from a country focused on the Western Balkans into a nation with an active global presence across all continents.