News

24 April is the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, declared by the UN General Assembly in 2018. The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs marked the day in a particularly special way with a simulation of international negotiations within the framework of the United Nations, conducted by university and secondary school students under the auspices of the United Nations Association of Slovenia.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia fully supports the joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom (E3) on April 23, 2025, regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The theme of this year's International Mother Earth Day, "Our Power, Our Planet", underscores the potential of individuals and communities to shape a sustainable, just and energy-independent future. Slovenia's commitment to sustainable development is also reflected in its foreign policy.

Minister Tanja Fajon hosted Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, on an official visit. This visit, the first of its kind at this level, is a follow-up to the dynamic and in-depth political dialogue between Slovenia and Morocco.

The cultural programme of the 2025 Latin American and Caribbean Days opened with a screening of the acclaimed Brazilian documentary The Salt of the Earth (Sal de Terra), which chronicles the life and work of world-renowned Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado. The event took place at the Slovenian Cinematheque and was organised by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, in cooperation with the embassies of Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries, the Slovenian Cinematheque, the Vodnik Homestead and the Konzorcij Bookstore.

A three-day Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) workshop, co-hosted by Slovenia and the United States of America, successfully concluded yesterday, 16 April.

During her official visit to Azerbaijan, Minister Tanja Fajon met with President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov to discuss the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries. They also discussed the draft peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On the sidelines of the visit, important contacts were established between representatives of Slovenian and Azerbaijani companies.

In 2024, Slovenia allocated 0.23% of its gross domestic product to official development assistance. Together with funding from the European Union budget, the EU committed EUR 152 million to humanitarian aid and development cooperation projects and programmes, a nominal decrease of just over EUR 700,000 compared to a year before.

Minister Tanja Fajon's first stop on her visit to the South Caucasus region was Armenia, where she encouraged her interlocutors to continue advancing efforts towards the normalisation of relations with neighbouring Azerbaijan. Minister Fajon and her Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, discussed the strengthening of economic cooperation in the fields of pharmaceuticals, sports infrastructure, energy, cancer treatment technologies and tourism.

At the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, Minister Tanja Fajon called for more decisive action to bring about a ceasefire and a lasting and just peace in Ukraine, and for the return of more than 19,000 abducted Ukrainian children: “These are war crimes and clear violations of international law. This must remain a humanitarian priority and part of the peace negotiations.”

In Antalya, State Secretary Melita Gabrič attended the extended format meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation-League of Arab States Gaza Contact Group. The meeting hosted by Türkiye was a follow-up to the meetings of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution and is also attended by representatives of Norway, Ireland, Spain and the EU.

During political consultations at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, State Secretary Marko Štucin met with Wael Hamed, Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Abu Bakr Hefny, Deputy Foreign Minister for African and Regional Affairs, and Nabil Habashi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates.

Warsaw hosted an informal meeting of directors-general responsible for development cooperation and humanitarian aid in EU Member States, which was attended by Ambassador Edvin Skrt, Director-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. The future global role of the EU as a major donor of ODA was at the centre of the debate.

Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, concluded a three-day visit to Benin and Togo on behalf of the EU High Representative. In the Togolese capital, she assured the country’s senior officials that the EU’s partnership with this West African coastal state remains crucial for ensuring regional security and stability.

Today, State Secretary Marko Štucin attended the Second Ministerial Conference of the Khartoum Process in Cairo. Egypt currently holds the chairmanship of the Process, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia visited Benin on behalf the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, and held a series of talks with the country’s top officials and representatives of civil society. She confirmed EU’s interest in deepening its partnership with Benin and visited some of the project sites with which the EU is engaged in the country.

On this World Health Day conducted under the title ‘Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures’, the international community is urged to reflect on ways to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and to prioritize women’s longer-term health and well-being. The health of women and mothers and the well-being of children have always been at the forefront of Slovenia's international efforts.

The 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council concluded in Geneva, with Slovenia as one of the key co-creators of initiatives that contribute significantly to the strengthening of international human rights standards.

Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, accompanies President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar on her official visit to Kazakhstan with a strong business delegation. Minister Fajon met separately with Kazakh Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu.

In March, Denmark – the first among the new UNSC members – took over the presidency of the Security Council from China. The programme of work included discussions on the Middle East, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Sudan and South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan.