Today marks the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime, unanimously declared by the UN General Assembly at the initiative of Armenia in 2015. On 9 December 1948, the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the first document to have a significant impact on combating and preventing the crime of genocide. The purpose of the day is to commemorate the victims of this crime and also to raise awareness of the Convention and to prevent developments that may lead to mass atrocities.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Miro Cerar today took part in the Rome MED 2019 international conference – Mediterranean Dialogues as a panellist on migration management. Commitment to solidarity, multilateralism and a joint European approach is prerequisite to finding effective solutions, in which Slovenia will remain a credible partner.

During his visit to Rome, Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar met with Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio. The counterparts endorsed strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation at the European and regional levels. Minister Cerar outlined the expectations of the Slovenian national minority regarding its representation in the Italian parliament and the restitution of the National Hall in Trieste.

Today marks the closure of the project, which was initiated on 8 March by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with women ambassadors to Slovenia. At the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, participating students were first informed of the activities for the promotion of Slovenia and its brand 'I Feel Slovenia', and later they were acquainted with the functioning of the Office of Youth and the role of the youth delegate to the United Nations.

Luxembourg hosted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Plenary Meeting between 2 and 5 December. Slovenia reaffirmed its commitment to remembrance of the Holocaust and the need to disseminate knowledge of the tragic historical events to prevent such horrors from happening ever again.

Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar concludes his two-day official visit to Belgrade. Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić met today to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries, regional challenges, the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, the EU’s enlargement policy. At the Serbian National Assembly, the Slovenian delegation was met by its Speaker Maja Gojković.

Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Andrej Benedejčič attended the Fourth Review Conference of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (Ottawa Convention), held in Oslo between 25 and 29 November 2019.

On 28 November, Vice Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China Qin Gang hosted State Secretary Simona Leskovar for political consultations as part of regular Slovenia-China dialogue. The last consultations took place in February 2017.

The Slovenian Government responded to the appeal of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and will allocate EUR 40,000 for urgent humanitarian aid for migrants on the Western Balkan route.

State Secretary Dobran Božič today received the President of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Regional Council Piero Mauro Zanin during his visit to the Republic of Slovenia.

State Secretary Simona Leskovar attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in the format of development cooperation ministers. Based on the final report issued by the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons, the ministers discussed the EU’s future financial architecture for development and the support for countries in transition, with particular focus on Sudan and Ethiopia. This was followed by a discussion on gender equality and education in development cooperation.

The Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, Ambassador Andrej Benedejčič, stated at the 24th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention: “Only a multilateral approach, assisted by the Convention and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, can pave the way for a world free of chemical weapons.”

Today marked the beginning of the 10th edition of Slovenian Development Days in Ljubljana, dedicated to the challenges of development cooperation ensuing from climate change, with the first two panel discussions on youth and climate change and on circular economy. “By adopting new political and legislative orientations and the requirement for all Slovenian development cooperation projects or programmes to refrain from promoting an increase in fossil fuel consumption, Slovenia contributes, in concrete terms, to the fulfilment of the Paris Climate Agreement commitment to third countries,” explained Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Miro Cerar in his introductory address.

The eighth session of the Slovenian-Turkish Joint Economic Commission, co-chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia Dr Miro Cerar and the Minister for Youth and Sports of the Republic of Turkey Dr Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu, was held at Brdo Congress Centre today.

On 21 and 22 November 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the 27th Meeting of the Tallinn Group, which includes 14 countries supporting EU enlargement. By way of introduction, the participants were addressed by Political Director/Director-General for Common Foreign and Security Policy Matej Marn, who underlined the current status of the enlargement policy and its great significance for the stability and implementation of reforms in the region. He also stressed the importance for the EU to send out clear signals, which must be credible and in line with the undertaken commitments.

The meeting of foreign ministers is focused on the preparations for the formal summit of NATO heads of state and government, to be held in London on 3–4 December 2019, marking the Alliance’s 70th anniversary. The ministers have already drafted the framework programme for the summit.

The Third Committee meeting of the UN General Assembly concluded yesterday in New York. Starting on 2 October, the Committee considered and approved some 60 resolutions and decisions over seven weeks.

State Secretary Dobran Božič met with Minister for EU Affairs in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sweden Hans Dahlgren.

Representatives of Slovenia and the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia met today in Koper for the fourth session of the Slovenia–Friuli Venezia Giulia Joint Committee. Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Miro Cerar and President of the Autonomous Region Massimiliano Fedriga, co-chairs of the Joint Committee, agreed that the cooperation between Slovenia and its neighbouring region of Friuli Venezia Giulia was very valuable. Agenda items for today’s session present the diversity of dialogue between Slovenia and its neighbouring Italian region, reflecting the needs of people on both sides of the border, explained Minister Cerar.

State Secretary Dobran Božič attended the EU General Affairs Council in Brussels, where the new EU budget, preparations for the December European Council, the rule of law and enlargement were discussed.