News

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon participated in the 9th UfM Regional Forum in Barcelona together with 43 foreign ministers and their deputies from the Euro-Mediterranean region. Thanks to its increased engagement in the UfM, Slovenia has been recognised as a very active and constructive member in recent years," said Minister Fajon.

During her participation in the UN Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, State Secretary Melita Gabrič met with Palestinian Minister of Women's Affairs Mona Al-Khalili.

Minister Tanja Fajon took part in the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting. The main topics on the agenda were Russian aggression against Ukraine and the Middle East. On the margins of the meeting, the EU foreign ministers met informally with their British counterpart David Lammy. Other current foreign policy issues – Moldova, Georgia, Sudan, Somalia, Venezuela and relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan – were also discussed.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today attended a summit of the Mediterranean EU countries, MED9, in Paphos, Cyprus. The summit was also attended by the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

Prime Minister Robert Golob made a statement to the media on the first anniversary of the Hamas terror attack in Israel and the start of the Gaza war. "Today marks one year since the brutal Hamas terror attack on innocent Israeli civilians, one year since the capture of Israeli hostages in Gaza, and one year since the Israeli military launched one of the largest slaughters in modern history.

One year has passed since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, which triggered a spiral of violence in the Middle East with catastrophic humanitarian consequences, especially for women and children. Slovenia condemns all violence, calls for the protection of civilians, the release of all hostages, the provision of humanitarian aid and the implementation of the two-state solution, which is a prerequisite for peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.

Prime Minister Robert Golob chaired a meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres as rapporteur. The Prime Minister also addressed the Security Council.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today addressed the UN General Assembly. In his speech, he touched upon the most pressing issues of our time, focusing on peace and security in the international community, the reform of the Security Council, the climate crisis and humanity.

On the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Minister Tanja Fajon led an informal dialogue between the Security Council and the League of Arab States on the escalating situation in the Middle East, efforts to organise a peace conference for a lasting peace and a two-state solution, and the indispensable role of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

Today in the UN Security Council, Slovenia hosted the main event of its Presidency, an open debate entitled "Leadership for Peace", which focused on the Security Council’s actions on three foreign policy issues: Ukraine, the Middle East and Sudan. It was chaired by Prime Minister Robert Golob.

The Prime Minister, Robert Golob, appeared today as a keynote speaker at the Save the Children event. The attendees were also addressed by the Queen of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Rania al Abdullah, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland, Simon Harris, and the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Mohammad Mustafa.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon chairs today’s UN Security Council briefing on illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The debate on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2334 focuses primarily on the issue of laying the groundwork for a future two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.

At the invitation of Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, Minister Fajon took part in a meeting of European and Arab foreign ministers. The discussion focused on strengthening joint efforts and initiatives aimed at realising the two-state solution and achieving peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians. They agreed that more diplomacy and international cooperation are needed to resolve this conflict.

During the discussion on Russia's aggression against Ukraine at the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, Minister Tanja Fajon expressed concern about attempts to attack nuclear power plants. On the Middle East, she stressed the need for an immediate temporary ceasefire in Gaza in order to carry out vaccination campaigns to protect children against polio. She also supported the debate on the imposition of further sanctions upon Israel.

Following the conclusion of the second Strategic Partnership for Humanitarian Emergency Response with Slovenian Karitas, Minister Tanja Fajon met with its Secretary General, Peter Tomažič. The two officials praised the partnership as very good and the cooperation as effective and reciprocal. They reviewed the humanitarian activities already agreed, especially in Gaza and Ukraine, and discussed further plans.

In its Advisory opinion the International Court of Justice (ICJ) held that Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory breach some of the most elementary rules and principles of international law, including the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and that Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon took part in the UNRWA Pledging Conference at UN Headquarters. This annual event aims to encourage countries to make financial contributions to support UNRWA in carrying out its activities.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon handed over a note to the Palestinian ambassador, Salah Abdel-Shafi, on the diplomatic recognition of a Palestinian state and the simultaneous establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Slovenia and the State of Palestine.

"After a series of consultations over the past few days, I have decided to place on the agenda of Thursday's Government meeting a decision to forward recognition of Palestine to the National Assembly."

At the regular monthly meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, ministers, including Slovenian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon, stressed the need to comply with the decisions of the relevant international courts and agreed that the EU should play a more active role in the process of strengthening the Palestinian Authority. Fajon said that the Slovenian government was working to recognise Palestine as soon as possible.