By doing so, Slovenia has responded to the UN Secretary-General's request of 16 June 2023 to appoint its representative to the UN Security Council and to communicate the names of deputy and alternate representatives. This was necessary because the membership of the Security Council requires additional commitment and the performance of tasks that go beyond the usual activities of permanent missions of Member States to the UN.

The special mission will be headed by Samuel Žbogar, currently State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and a career diplomat with over 30 years of experience. Mr Žbogar has served as Foreign Minister, EU Special Representative in Kosovo, Head of the EU Delegation in North Macedonia, Slovenian Ambassador in Washington DC, and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN during Slovenia's first membership of the UN Security Council.

On the appointment of the special mission for the Security Council membership, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon said: “This is a step towards building the capacities of our permanent mission ahead of this important task that we intend to perform responsibly and to the best of our ability. To this end, Slovenia has decided to appoint a special mission for the UN Security Council membership – an option provided for in the UN Charter. This decision is not without precedent; other countries have adopted a similar approach. Ambassador Boštjan Malovrh will remain Permanent Representative of the Republic of Slovenia to the UN and will continue to head the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Slovenia to the UN in New York. I believe he and Samuel Žbogar, with his experience and expertise, will form a well-coordinated team of excellent diplomats. Membership of the UN Security Council presents a great challenge, opportunity and privilege, which is why Slovenia’s top diplomats are joining forces to successfully carry out this national project. I am looking forward with great anticipation to working with our reinforced diplomatic mission in New York.”

From an organisational perspective, the special mission for the Security Council membership forms part of Slovenia’s Permanent Mission to the UN.