Minister Fajon at the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon attended the opening session of the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. In her speech, she highlighted the significant contribution the Treaty makes to world peace and safety, especially taking into account the complexity of the security environment marked by various challenges and threats. She advocated the further strengthening of the Treaty through the implementation of its three pillars – disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Minster Tanja Fajon at the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

Minster Tanja Fajon at the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons | Author Ministrstvo za zunanje zadeve RS

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Minister Fajon stressed that Europe is facing one of the most deteriorated security environments in decades, the implications of which resonate across the world.  She condemned the unprovoked Russian aggression against Ukraine, its nuclear rhetoric and reckless acts against Ukraine's nuclear facilities, calling for stronger application of international law, norms and institutions. It is high time the international community collectively reaffirmed the Treaty as the cornerstone of disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, thus preserving the important achievements of its more than 50 years of  existence.

“I welcome the departure of the first grain ship from Odessa this morning.  It is an important sign of the potential for dialogue in finding solutions to alleviate human suffering in the context of the global food crisis,” said Minister Fajon on the situation in Ukraine.

She also confirmed that Slovenia remains committed to a world free of nuclear weapons, which can be achieved gradually through the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Treaty. Furthermore, Slovenia fully supports practical approaches in this area, such as the Stockholm initiative for nuclear disarmament, which it joined in July 2022. As the only country out of 32 with a fully fledged civilian nuclear programme, Slovenia also stands ready to create new opportunities for developing countries to benefit from peaceful uses of nuclear energy. This is especially important in light of global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Minister Fajon went on to express support for the ongoing implementation of the Iran nuclear agreement (JCPoA) and called upon the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to take concrete steps towards complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation.

At today's opening session addresses were also given by United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Mariano Grossi and other high representatives of the parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Such review conferences held every five years provide an opportunity to evaluate the implementation of the Treaty and identify areas and ways for further improvement. The President-designate of this year's conference is Argentinian diplomat, Ambassador Gustavo Zlauvinen. As a run-up to the Conference, Ambassador Zlauvinen attended an informal meeting of EU non-proliferation and disarmament in Ljubljana as part of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council last September.

Minister Fajon met with US State Secretary Antony Blinken and will go on to meet with UN Secretary General Guterres and other ministers. Tomorrow, on the margins of the Review Conference, she will attend a meeting of the Stockholm Initiative for Nuclear Disarmament, founded on the initiative of Germany and Sweden.

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