The Consultation was chaired by Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon, who delivered the opening address and thanked the diplomats for the work they had accomplished. She went on to express her wish that "the general public would also better understand why diplomacy is important. To this end, we ourselves can make the greatest contribution - through quality work, constant reflection and improvement of our system", she urged.  

Minister Fajon outlined Slovenia's foreign policy priorities for the coming period, such as closer integration with the core countries of the European Union and further diplomatic engagement in our neighbourhood, especially the Western Balkans and the Mediterranean, in the light of the war in Ukraine, which represents a major security and political challenge both in Europe and beyond. In this context, the Minister stressed: "The EU must continue to pursue its enlargement policy as a means to stabilise the situation in its neighbourhood". She assured the Western Balkan countries of Slovenia's continued technical and political support in their EU integration process. She has also made feminist foreign policy a priority.

"As to the war in Ukraine, Slovenia is clearly on the side of those who respect international law and the UN Charter", she said, "which is why we condemn the military aggression against Ukraine and continue providing the necessary support to the country". She hoped for peace to prevail in Ukraine as soon as possible. Once peace is restored, dialogue with Russia must be re-established to prevent a new Cold War in Europe, the Minister believes.

She also touched on other global challenges, ranging from the climate crisis and migration, to cybersecurity and the fight against disinformation.

Minister Fajon defined Slovenia's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council as our common national project, to which all key political office holders and the entire Slovenian diplomacy must make their utmost contribution."

"I would like Europe to be strong, united, to act in solidarity and in a way that ensures the rule of law and the respect for human rights through an open, inclusive and ambitious foreign policy." As a key message of the Consultation, the Minister believed that the voice of our foreign policy can be much louder and the pursuit of its goals more ambitious, "which will be proved in June, at the time of the Security Council election".

Prime Minister Robert Golob, who also attended the first day of the Consultation, described the UN Security Council membership as the first objective of our foreign policy and stressed: "Knowledge alone will not be enough. It will have to be used with sufficient courage to achieve this ambitious goal."

The guest of honour at this year's Consultation of Slovenian Diplomacy was the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, José Manuel Albares Bueno.

Today, the participants were addressed by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar. In the afternoon, President of the National Assembly Urška Klakočar Zupančič will also be joining the event.