News

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is hosting the second seminar for young diplomats from the Eastern Partnership, which is being attended by representatives of the Armenian, Azerbaijani, Belarus, Georgian, Moldovan and Ukrainian foreign ministries.

Today, as part of the 14th Bled Strategic Forum, Minister Dr Miro Cerar met with his Finnish counterpart Pekka Haavisto, who currently presides over the EU Foreign Affairs Council. The main topics of their discussion were bilateral relations, the Western Balkans, migration and the Arctic.

On the second day of the Bled Strategic Forum, Minister Dr Miro Cerar met with Michelle Bachelet Jeria, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Nasser Kamel, Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean.

The afternoon discussions at the Bled Strategic Forum were dedicated to multilateralism. The panellists, President of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borell Fontelles, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Slovenian Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar, exchanged views on the importance of effective multilateralism and finding common solutions to global problems, and on the role of small countries in these efforts.

On the sidelines of the Bled Strategic Forum, Minister Dr Miro Cerar met with Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation Josep Borrell Fontelles.

The afternoon discussions at the Bled Strategic Forum were dedicated to multilateralism. The panellists, President of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borell Fontelles, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Slovenian Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar, exchanged views on the importance of effective multilateralism and finding common solutions to global problems, and on the role of small countries in these efforts.

The annual Bled Strategic Forum kicked off today with opening addresses by Prime Minister Marjan Šarec and Foreign Minister Miro Cerar as the host of the Forum. This leading international conference in the region is being held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the Centre for European Perspective for the fourteenth consecutive year. Under the title (Re)sources of (In)stability, this year’s Forum has gathered many state dignitaries and representatives of international organisations, civil society and business, including President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid, Spanish Foreign Minister and EU High Representative-designate Josep Borrell, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Foreign Minister of Finland Pekka Haavisto, currently presiding over the Council of the EU, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, and the foreign ministers of most Western Balkan countries.

On the margins of the 14th Bled Strategic Forum, Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar met with the President of the United Nations General Assembly for the 73rd session, Ms María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, with their talks focusing on the role and strengthening of multilateralism.

Minister Dr Miro Cerar is attending an informal two-day meeting of EU foreign ministers (Gymnich). On the first day, the foreign ministers, together with ministers of defence, discussed hybrid threats, underlining the importance of information exchanges between EU member states. The discussion on the Middle East focused on Iran and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, with the ministers stressing that the EU must continue its efforts to calm the situation in the region and ensure free navigation through the strait. They also strongly advocated preserving the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA).

On 2 and 3 September, Bled will again host high-level politicians, business people and representatives of international organisations and academia from Slovenia and beyond. Organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the Centre for European Perspective for the fourteenth consecutive year, the Bled Strategic Forum seeks to provide appropriate solutions to key issues for guaranteeing peace and security, sustainable development, and economic progress. The two-day conference, held under the title (Re)sources of (In)stability, will be divided into thirty panels with the participation of fifteen ministers, two presidents, and many senior representatives of international organisations.

On 19 August, the President of the Republic of Slovenia signed a decree on the appointment of Blažka Kepic as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to the Portuguese Republic resident in Ljubljana.

On 12 August, the President of the Republic of Slovenia signed a decree on the appointment of Tanja Strniša as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to the Czech Republic.

Minister Miro Cerar today hosted his Japanese counterpart, Taro Kono. This is the first official visit of a Japanese Foreign Minister in the history of independent Slovenia. Minister Kono also met with President Pahor.

On 12 July, the President of the Republic of Slovenia signed a decree on the appointment of Alenka Suhadolnik as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to the People’s Republic of China.

Today, State Secretary Dobran Božič received Marta Grande, the Chair of the Committee on Foreign and EU Affairs of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, accompanied by Paolo Trichilo, the Italian ambassador to Slovenia, Filippo Giuseppe Perconti, a member of the Committee, and Francesca Piazza, the secretary of the Committee.

Andrej Logar, ambassador-at-large for key and strategic affairs, attended the informal meeting of foreign and internal ministers in Paris, which discussed migration in the Mediterranean. The meeting of the EU and Schengen ministers and heads of several international organisations was convened by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner in the face of the growing challenges of migration management in the Mediterranean, particularly its central part, which is considered the deadliest migration route for migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean Sea.

State Secretary Dobran Božič received Loránt Vincze, the president of FUEN (the Federal Union of European Nationalities), today to present the initiative Minority Safepack. The initiative’s goal is to establish an EU framework of ethnic and linguistic minority members’ rights.

On 19 July, the President of the Republic of Slovenia signed a decree on the appointment of Lea Stančič as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to Romania.

On 19 July, the President of the Republic of Slovenia signed a decree on the appointment of Peter Japelj as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to the Republic of Albania.

To mark the 101st anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s birth, celebrated today, Political Director/ Director-General for Common Foreign and Security Policy Matej Marn attended the opening of the African Cultural Centre in Ljubljana. The African Cultural Centre was established in the framework of the African Village Institute. In addition to holding cultural events, the centre’s purpose is informal awareness raising of the importance of a multicultural society and respectful intercultural communication.

State Secretary Božič attended the General Affairs Council today, which took note of the foreseen course of negotiations on the new EU budget until the end of the year and of the Finnish Presidency’s priorities. Implementation of the new strategic agenda and the situation regarding the rule of law in the European Union were also discussed.

The Foreign Ministry participates in this year’s MetalDays festival taking place between 21 and 27 July in Tolmin, where it displays in an interactive way key sustainable development messages included in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030).

On 16 July, the President of the Republic of Slovenia signed a decree on the appointment of Gregor Presker as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to Montenegro.

On 12 July, the President of the Republic of Slovenia signed a decree on the appointment of Alain Brian Bergant as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to the Argentine Republic.

On 12 July, the President of the Republic of Slovenia signed a decree on the appointment of Andrej Slapničar as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia – Head of the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Slovenia to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

On 12 July, the President of the Republic of Slovenia signed a decree on the appointment of Metka Ipavic as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to the French Republic.

On 12 July, the President of the Republic of Slovenia signed a decree on the appointment of Dr Erik Kopač as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia – Head of the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Slovenia to NATO in Brussels.

On 12 July, the President of the Republic of Slovenia signed a decree on the appointment of Matjaž Longar as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to the Hellenic Republic.

On 12 July, the President of the Republic of Slovenia signed a decree on the appointment of Barbara Žvokelj as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary – Head of Permanent Representation of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Nations, OSCE and other International Organisations in Vienna.

On 12 July, the President of the Republic of Slovenia signed a decree on the appointment of Tomaž Kunstelj as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to the Italian Republic.

On 12 July, the President of the Republic of Slovenia signed a decree on the appointment of Andreja Purkart Martinez as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to the State of Israel.

Today marks the 21th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute, which established the permanent International Criminal Court (ICC), a body which has the power to prosecute perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression. On this occasion, Slovenia renews its call on all States that have not yet done so to ratify the Rome Statute as a matter of priority, and to cooperate fully with the Court, thereby ensuring accountability for the most heinous crimes.

State Secretary Dobran Božič hosted a farewell lunch at Brdo pri Kranju in honour of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Bart Twaalhoven.

Minister Dr Miro Cerar attended the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting in Brussels on Iran, Iraq, the Central African Republic and external aspects of migration. The ministers had an informal lunch with Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicu Popescu.

Today was the last day of the 41st meeting of the UN Human Rights Council. At this meeting, Slovenia actively participated in discussions involving not only the rights of women and elderly people, but also rights in relation to climate change and the fight against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Minister za zunanje zadeve dr. Miro Cerar se je danes sešel s palestinskim ministrom za zunanje zadeve in razseljene osebe dr. Riadom Malkijem, ki se v Ljubljani mudi na delovnem obisku. Reden dialog s palestinskimi sogovorniki je za Slovenijo dragocen za celovito razumevanje dogajanja v bližnjevzhodni regiji in razmer v Palestini.

An oral hearing was scheduled this afternoon at the EU Court of Justice on the admissibility of an action that Slovenia filed against Croatia for breaches of EU law resulting from its repudiation of the Arbitral Award. Two years after the Final Award was rendered, Slovenia stands firmly on its position. In accordance with Article 7 of the Arbitration Agreement, the Final Award of the Arbitral Tribunal of 29 June 2017 is binding on both parties and constitutes a definitive settlement of the border dispute.

Dobran Božič, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended the ministerial meeting of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEEPC) held in Sarajevo on 7 and 8 July. A Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) annual meeting was organised on the margins of the ministerial meeting.

At the invitation of the Japanese government, State Secretary Simona Leskovar attended the 24th International Conference for Women in Business. The conference Scale Up was held in Tokyo on 7 July 2019. State Secretary Leskovar was one of the keynote speakers at the conference and one of the panellists at the roundtable on global policies. As a part of her visit, the state secretary met senior representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cabinet Office of the prime minister as well as the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs.

State Secretary Dobran Božič attended the traditional meeting of the Quadrilaterale (Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Slovenia) at the level of deputy foreign ministers. This year's meeting took place between 4 and 5 July and was hosted by Austria. The participants exchanged views on cooperation within the Quadrilaterale and on current European and international issues.

Foreign Minister Miro Cerar is attending the Berlin Process’s ministerial session in Poznań, which focuses on the regional cooperation of the Western Balkan countries in security, economic cooperation and transport connectivity, while encouraging youth and enhancing civil society.

The 19th Meeting of authorised representatives for the distribution of diplomatic and consular properties of the former SFRY in compliance with Annex B to the Agreement on Succession Issues continued on Tuesday and Wednesday in Belgrade. Slovenia was represented by Ambassador Damjan Bergant, Secretary General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar is paying an official one-day visit to Paris today, where he will meet French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and OECD Secretary-General Ángel Gurría, with whom he will discuss the challenges of modern-day societies, which are driven by digital transformation, climate change, artificial intelligence, education, ageing of the population and the impact on the labour market.

Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian signed the new French–Slovenian Strategic Partnership Action Plan for 2019–2022 in Paris today. Minister Cerar is paying a working visit to France at the invitation of his French counterpart.

State Secretary Simona Leskovar participated in a ministerial meeting of the Ukraine Reform Conference, hosted by the Canadian and Ukrainian governments. She commended the progress achieved by Ukraine and called for further efforts in implementing necessary reforms, desired and indeed demanded by the Ukrainian people, and assured Slovenia’s support to this end.

Austria, Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden attach the utmost importance to the preservation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), signed by Iran and unanimously endorsed by the UN Security Council, as a key instrument for the non-proliferation regime and a major contribution to stability in the region.

Minister Dr Cerar today met with Andreas Norlén, Speaker of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Sweden, who is paying an official visit to Slovenia between the 25 and the 27 of June at the invitation of Dejan Židan, the President of the Slovenian National Assembly. In their talks, the two high officials reaffirmed the excellent bilateral relations and expressed their mutual determination to further strengthen cooperation in various fields of common interest, both within the EU and other international forums.

Dobran Božič, the State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, concluded his three-day visit to Israel today, accompanied by a Slovenian business delegation of seventeen representatives from thirteen hi-tech start-up companies.

Bled today hosted the 15th plenary session of the Intergovernmental Slovenian-Russian Commission on Trade and Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, headed by Slovenian Foreign Minister Dr Miroslav Cerar and Russian Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Konstantin Noskov.

State Secretary Dobran Božič today hosted Thomas Antoine, Secretary-General of the Benelux Union. The Secretary-General’s visit falls into the framework of enhanced cooperation between Slovenia and Benelux, which was kicked off in 2017 at prime minister level and was consolidated by the summit of the four prime ministers in Ljubljana in February 2018. Secretary-General Antoine was also received for a courtesy call by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Miroslav Cerar.

The second event of the “Young Women Ambassadors” project organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took place today in Ljubljana. Female students gained insight into the work of the police and the Ministry of the Interior, with a special focus on border protection measures, migration control and international cooperation. They also became acquainted with the educational system in Slovenia and the opportunities available to them in their future education and careers.

Minister Cerar is participating in the ministerial meeting of the Central European Initiative (CEI) being held in Trieste. Uniting 17 countries, the CEI is the oldest and largest intergovernmental forum for regional cooperation and consultation, furthering political, economic and cultural ties between Central, Eastern and South-Eastern European countries.

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg (ECHR) today convened an oral hearing on the admissibility of the inter-state application filed by Slovenia against Croatia relating to the Ljubljanska Banka (LB) claims towards Croatian companies. This was the first opportunity for Slovenia to present its arguments and evidence concerning violations committed to the detriment of LB in 48 proceedings before Croatian courts.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar and the President of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Regional Government, Massimiliano Fedriga, opened the new premises of the Consulate-General of the Republic of Slovenia in Trieste. Just before the evening reception marking Republic Day in Italy, the Minister held separate meetings with the Slovenian minority and FVG President Fedriga.

We, the Foreign Ministers of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, Hungary, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Slovenia, the Republic of Poland and the Slovak Republic reiterate our continued support for the Western Balkans on their European path. The EU enlargement process has a positive transformative power in the Western Balkans and is an investment in peace and stability in Europe. It is essential to ensure the overall progress of the region. The EU needs to fulfil its unambiguous commitment to the Western Balkans European integration. There is no “plan B”.

David Brozina, Director-General for EU Affairs, and Slovenian Ambassador to Greece Anita Pipan attended the official opening of the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Slovenia in Thessaloniki. This is the first Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Slovenia in Greece, with jurisdiction over the entire north of Greece. Thessaloniki, the second largest Greek city and a major port, is the economic centre of this rapidly developing region.

Political consultations between the foreign ministries of Slovenia and Switzerland at the level of directors general for European affairs took place today at Brdo pri Kranju. David Brozina and Pietro Piffaretti devoted special attention to bilateral cooperation, economic and regional cooperation, EU issues, with special focus on EU–Switzerland relations, and topical international issues.

The first day of the Three Seas Initiative Business Forum, held under the aegis of the Prime Minister at Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre, focused on connectivity along four key dimensions of the initiative: energy, transport, digitisation, and innovation. At the presidential panel, chaired by Slovenian President Borut Pahor, presidents of participating countries discussed geopolitical and transition challenges in the area of the EU spanning the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas.

Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar today met Ivan Brajović, President of the Parliament of Montenegro, who is paying an official visit to Slovenia. The constructive talks focused on bilateral relations, enhanced cooperation within NATO, EU enlargement, and Montenegro's progress on its path towards the EU, as well as regional cooperation and the situation in the region.