News

State Secretary Neva Grašič met with Osvaldo Zavala Giler, Registrar of the International Criminal Court (ICC), on the margins of the Bled Strategic Forum. She reaffirmed Slovenia's commitment to the global fight against impunity for the most serious crimes, and to upholding the rule of law, as well as the independence and impartiality of judicial institutions, with the ICC at their centre.

On the margins of the Bled Strategic Forum, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister Tanja Fajon and President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Mirjana Špoljarić signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reaffirming and further strengthening the longstanding partnership between Slovenia and the ICRC in the field of humanitarian action and the promotion of international humanitarian law.

On the sidelines of the Bled Strategic Forum, Ms. Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, and Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), signed a €4 million agreement to support the Agency’s work over the next four years (2025 – 2028), including €1 million per year in fully flexible funding.

With her address, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon opened the 20th edition of the Bled Strategic Forum international conference entitled "A Runaway World". “In a world that often seems to be spinning out of control, principled leadership matters. Slovenia is an excellent proof that even a small country can lead – with courage, conscience and a commitment to justice, human dignity and international law," stated Minister Fajon.

State Secretary Dr Melita Gabrič held political consultations in Bled with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Muzaffarbek Madrakhimov. These consultations followed the successful visit of Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who came to Slovenia in May this year with a large economic delegation.

Shortly before the start of this year's 20th anniversary edition of the Bled Strategic Forum international conference, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon hosted a high-level women's forum comprising foreign ministers, senior representatives of international organisations and members of national parliaments and the European Parliament. Their discussions focused on decency in politics, a highly relevant matter in the current climate of rising authoritarianism.

In August, Panama held the presidency of the UN Security Council. The situation in the Middle East dominated the Council’s work this month, particularly the further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has led to famine being declared. Due to Iran's non-compliance with its obligations under the nuclear agreement, France, Germany and the United Kingdom demanded that UN sanctions be reimposed.

Before the official start of the Bled Strategic Forum 2025, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon engaged in dialogue with the participants of the 14th annual Young Bled Strategic Forum (Young BSF). They discussed how values can be a driving force in global politics. Minister Fajon emphasised that, in politics, it is important to maintain strong principles and uphold them.

At the Informal Meeting of EU Ministers for Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen, under the Danish EU Presidency, ministers addressed the decision of the United States to deny visas to the Palestinian delegation to the UN General Assembly in September. Minister Fajon urged her EU counterparts to take measures against Israel, either by consensus or, if necessary, by qualified majority.

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia and Spain strongly condemn the most recent Israeli offensive launched in the Strip and the announcement to establish a permanent presence in Gaza City.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon opened the 29th Consultation of Slovenian Diplomats attended by the heads of Slovenian diplomatic and consular missions abroad. Slovenian diplomats were addressed by Prime Minister Robert Golob. Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, also participated as a special guest via video link.

Following intense diplomatic efforts, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs is delighted to see the return of Venetian renaissance painter Vittore Carpaccio’s painting depicting Madonna with Child and Saints to the monastery church of St. Francis in Piran.

Minister Tanja Fajon hosted the Palestinian Authority's State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Varsen Aghabekian Shahin during her first official visit since Slovenia recognised Palestine. The two ministers used this opportunity to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the development of relations between the two countries, which enables the establishment of a formal framework for a systematic dialogue and regular political and practical cooperation.

Under the honorary patronage of Minister Tanja Fajon, a youth dialogue was held in Brdo pri Kranju within the framework of the international project SIT DOWN – Peace Child in Concert. More than 170 young artists, representatives of 19 nationalities, including those from crisis areas such as Palestine and Ukraine, held a discussion with Minister Fajon and other participants on global challenges, also featured in the musical Peace Child.

World Humanitarian Day on 19 August draws attention to the noble work carried out by humanitarian workers around the world. Every day, they help people affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters and other humanitarian crises, often in extremely dangerous and unpredictable situations.

These days, Brdo pri Kranju is playing host to 200 artists from 19 countries, all united by a love of music, creativity and a desire for peace. Among them are young people from crisis areas whose visit has been made possible by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, including 11 female singers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 14 Ukrainian musicians and 20 members of a Palestinian choir.

The humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached unimaginable levels. Famine is unfolding before our eyes. Urgent action is needed now to halt and reverse starvation. Humanitarian space must be protected, and aid should never be politicised.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia is proud to support the international project ‘SIT DOWN – Peace Child in Concert’, which marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the end of World War II this year. The project is being carried out under the honorary patronage of Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia.

State Secretary Melita Gabrič participated in an extraordinary informal meeting of EU foreign ministers, which took place via video link. The agenda of the meeting, which was convened by High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas in light of the announced meeting between the US and Russian presidents and the alarming developments in the Middle East, included Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the situation in Gaza.

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain strongly condemn the recent announcement by the Government of Israel of the intensification of the occupation and the military offensive, including in Gaza city. This decision will only deepen the humanitarian crisis and further endanger the remaining hostages’ lives. This operation will lead to an unacceptable high toll of deaths and the forced displacement of nearly one million Palestinian civilians.