Below is the speech of the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, at the opening of the 27th Consultation of Slovenian Diplomats.

"President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Nataša Pirc Musar,
President of the National Assembly Urška Klakočar Zupančič,
Heads of Slovenian diplomatic missions and consular posts,
Colleagues in the internal service of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

What a year!

We have achieved a great deal. "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference", Winston Churchill once said.

We have shown that we have the right attitude, that we can do it. Together. Slovenian diplomats.

Thank you all for your commitment.

Welcome to the 27th Consultation of Slovenian Diplomats. Allow me to reflect on the year that is coming to an end and the challenges ahead.

The world is changing irreversibly. We are living in a time of major realignment of forces, of international relations and of society as a whole. Such turning points in human history, when old systems die and new ones are yet to be born, are always accompanied by instability, uncertainty and even conflict.

If change is a constant, then the speed, intensity and extent of the changes we are experiencing are unprecedented. Adapting to new realities is therefore something more akin to crisis management than long-term strategic decision-making.

The effective management of geopolitical, technological and "sustainability" changes in the global environment is a key challenge for the future of the democratic world and for the preservation of the values on which the international community is founded.

The rule of international law is increasingly being replaced by the rule of power. This has been most brutally demonstrated in the Russian aggression against Ukraine, where we are witnessing the devaluation and trampling underfoot of the basic postulates of modern society. This is also happening today with the humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine. It is appalling to know that every ten minutes a child dies in Palestine. There is no excuse for terrorism, ever. There is no excuse for the humanitarian catastrophe that is unfolding before our eyes in Gaza, where the majority of the victims are women and children. As I have said many times before, and I say it again today, the world has failed the test of humanity in Gaza. We cannot expect the test to be repeated in Gaza. We will not have that privilege.

The cases of Ukraine and Palestine speak of a global struggle over fundamental values that should shape the future of relations in the international community. The outcome of this conflict will determine the kind of world we will live in and its key guiding principle – be it international law and human rights, or power.

The fact is that the system of international relations built on the wreckage of the Second World War is becoming too narrow and outdated for some of the new global players. The trend is clear: new alliances based on regional, sectoral and, above all, interest-based alliances are rapidly replacing multilateralism. The result is growing friction.

If we are to stop this spiral of insecurity and instability, which is likely to lead to a conflict of global proportions, we need to change the paradigm. We must strengthen confidence in the international legal system. This world needs functioning international institutions more than ever. The changed geopolitical situation demands it.

Against the backdrop of this high-risk and volatile world, Slovenia will become a member of the UN Security Council on 1 January.

Slovenia's priorities as a member are well known and will be discussed in more detail later.

In the Security Council, we will build on the foundations of Slovenia’s foreign policy, which has always been inclusive and based on cooperation and respect for other actors in the international community.

We received 153 votes from UN Member States. Therefore, at least 153 countries believe that Slovenia will contribute successfully and effectively to maintaining global peace and security. However, with membership come expectations. Expectations from those who have given us a voice, and also from those who have not. They all expect that we will be able to listen and be heard.

This is the result of the successful work and promotion of Slovenia's candidacy by the highest-ranking state officials and the diplomatic service. It gives Slovenia legitimacy, but also a great responsibility.

Slovenia is a self-confident and ambitious country and should not be afraid of this responsibility. Membership of the Security Council is a challenge, but above all it is an exceptional opportunity to promote the ideas and proposals, best practices and flexibility of Slovenian foreign policy.

Slovenia is part of the Western world and, as a member of the EU and NATO, shares values and principles with other partners and allies. This is its strength, and it needs to build on it. At the same time, it is crucial that we try to understand and correctly interpret the other voices from the international community, especially from the Global South, which has its own legitimate demands and expectations. I believe that Slovenia has this capacity.

Returning to Ukraine and Palestine, Slovenia's positions on Russian aggression and the Middle East conflict are clear and consistent. These are the respect for international and humanitarian law, the inviolability of borders, the protection of civilians and the most vulnerable groups, and the respect for human rights. There is no room for compromise when it comes to international law. Violations of these principles, such as we are witnessing today, must be investigated and sanctioned.

On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I made my expectations clear weeks ago in the Security Council. We are working for an immediate ceasefire, we are working in solidarity to address the humanitarian crisis and we are actively contributing to a political solution based on two states. Palestinians deserve a state of their own and Israelis deserve security. We must ensure that Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace.

The search for a just and lasting peace is one of the main priorities of Slovenian foreign policy. This is and will remain our guiding principle. Otherwise, we may witness the escalation and spread of instability.

The uncertain and unpredictable times in which we live, and the climate that warns us of extreme challenges, make Slovenia's role and responsibility all the greater. Nevertheless, I am optimistic about our membership of the Security Council. Not least because we have a capable diplomatic service that knows what it wants to achieve, and because we have proved this year that we can do it.

I would like the EU to play a more active role in addressing global crises. Just as the world is changing, so must the EU if it is to play a responsible and relevant role in the new global reality.

Next year, Slovenia will celebrate 20 years of membership. More than half of this period has been marked by various crises that could have fatal consequences for the future of the EU and on relations between its member states.

Why is this important? I would like to stress the following: doubts about the viability of the European project are at the heart of the European way of life, and every crisis that has occurred – economic, migration, health or security – has reinforced doubts about the Union’s ability to meet these challenges.

Yet the EU has managed to adapt, survive and, in some areas, consolidate. The resilience shown by the EU and its member states over the last decade is something we can and must build on when we talk about our common future. Solidarity, democracy and the rule of law, which are part of the European Union’s DNA, should continue to be the guiding principles of both Slovenian and European politics.

The EU is, in my opinion at least, the most innovative and daring political experiment in human history, because it has assumed that the culture of peace is stronger than the culture of war.

The fact is that the EU has adapted to all previous crises, but it has not managed them. The EU's approach is still reactive. We always react when something has already happened and when we have to adapt to a situation.

In the new reality, simply adapting to change will not be enough. The EU needs to become a confident agent of change and, above all, we as the EU need to be more active in promoting our values and norms.

To achieve this, the EU needs to change internally and improve the efficiency of its decision-making processes. That is why Slovenia has joined the reflection of the group of countries considering the possible extension of qualified majority voting to foreign policy. We are participating in the informal group on a non-binding basis and are aware that safeguards will be needed, especially for small countries.

The future role of the EU in the global context will largely be defined by our collective ability to address a number of challenges, including the green transition, strengthening the competitiveness of the European economy and reducing the technological gap with the US and China, as well as an effective, humanitarian and safe migration policy, while protecting and enhancing democracy and social systems.

Above all, we must be ready to welcome new members by 2030. EU enlargement to the Western Balkans and the East is not only in the interest of the EU and future members, it is also a geostrategic imperative. The Bled Pledge made by the President of the European Council at this year's BSF is a milestone for Slovenia, and it will clearly show whether the EU is capable of thinking and deciding geostrategically.

Slovenia will continue to work towards an EU that is ready to welcome new members by 2030 and at least some, if not all, of the candidate countries ready to join. From today's perspective, this may seem an unrealistic scenario, but we should not forget that before 24 February 2021, Ukraine had no enlargement perspective at all.

The recent European Council confirmed that EU enlargement is a deeply geopolitical process. It is the EU's most visible tool and a test of its credibility. Without the successful consolidation of the European continent, without the integration of the soft underbelly of Europe into the Union, the EU will remain a geopolitical playground and never be a player.

As a vocal supporter of enlargement, Slovenia welcomes the decision to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova and to grant candidate status to Georgia. The example of Ukraine shows what can be done, even in a short period of less than two years, if there is sufficient political will. We hope that the twenty-year wait for the Western Balkans at the EU's door will end as soon as possible, something which Slovenia will continue to work for. In this respect, the decision to open accession negotiations for BiH as soon as it has met some of the requirements for membership is a step in the right direction.

However, one thing must be clear, and Slovenia will insist on this – the rule of law is a prerequisite for effective integration. At a time of global geostrategic turmoil, the EU cannot afford to stray from fundamental norms and standards, be it internally or in the case of enlargement.

The above challenges will not be easy. Different scenarios are on the table, and the EU faces important choices which, for the first time in its history, are not about adapting, but actually about taking a leading role in the global community. This is a process that will require solidarity, courage and compromises between self-interest and the common good.

As a direct consequence of Russia's aggression in Ukraine, NATO is expanding and returning to its original mandate. NATO remains the backbone of both European defence and transatlantic cooperation. At the same time, it must continue to adapt in order to respond effectively to the security challenges of the present and the future. These include cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and space, to name but a few.

If Slovenia is to engage constructively on all key issues, it must build on its own core values and norms. It is crucial to adopt principled and transparent positions.

At the same time, we need to be aware that the limits of Slovenia’s foreign policy activities are not confined to the European Union and NATO, or to the immediate neighbourhood. At the global level, this is reflected in the membership of the Security Council and the opening of new embassies and consulates, for example in Ethiopia, Algeria and the Philippines. At the same time, foreign countries are increasing their diplomatic presence in Slovenia, which we see as an acknowledgement of our accelerated international engagement. The announcement by Algeria and South Korea to open embassies in Slovenia early next year is another success for Slovenian diplomats this year.

Working with third countries and understanding their way of thinking can bring important benefits in the activities ahead.

In this context, the Ministry has also prepared a new proposal for a strategy for Slovenia's foreign and European policy. The document takes into account the changed security and political environment in Europe and the world and highlights priorities – the fight against climate change, economic diplomacy, development cooperation, human rights, bilateral cooperation, strengthening cross-border cooperation and good neighbourly relations, regional cooperation, and a feminist foreign policy.

All of these issues will also be addressed later in the consultation, but I feel it is important to reiterate the following:

Slovenia’s success in promoting its values and interests in the EU and NATO, as well as in the wider international community, will depend on its ability to present its positions, ideas and proposals in a clear and understandable manner. In doing so, it must ensure internal coherence among all actors involved in the country's foreign policy activities.

Whenever we have been united and clear about what we want, we have been successful. One of the most recent examples is the candidature of Beti Hohler as a judge at the International Criminal Court.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me conclude with a few words on solidarity. Solidarity is only meaningful if we continue to show it. I am proud that over the past two years, Slovenia has responded appropriately to the growing development and humanitarian needs in the world. Following our exemplary response in Ukraine, and without diminishing our commitment to other crises, we have shown solidarity in Palestine, where we have increased our regular contribution to the people of Gaza almost twentyfold.

However, in line with the commitments that Slovenia has reaffirmed on countless occasions, it is necessary to gradually increase and, in the longer term, secure development funding so that Slovenia remains a credible partner in the international community. I will therefore work to ensure that the Government adopts an action plan to increase official development assistance, as mandated by the National Assembly resolution. In this way, Slovenia will also assume its share of responsibility in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. In many ways, official development assistance is the building block of the future for new generations. Given the current situation in the world, I can say that it is also a building block for peace.

I would also like to stress that I will work to involve more Slovenian business expertise, technologies and private funding in development cooperation. The achievements of Slovenian companies and know-how are already world-leading in many areas (the space industry, to name but one). Our task remains to support their internationalisation.

Last but not least, Slovenia will only be successful if it has a professional, active and highly motivated diplomatic service capable of adequately communicating its positions to foreign partners and defending its interests in the wider international community. And if it can attract young people and create favourable working and living conditions for the families of diplomats abroad.

Through the process of seeking support for Slovenia’s membership of the Security Council, we have shown that we have the knowledge and the potential, that Slovenian diplomats are capable not only of adapting to the changed circumstances in the international community, but also of convincing other countries of their vision of the development of global relations through the power of argument rather than the argument of power.

And finally, my personal experience. This has been a special year for me, a privilege in every sense of the word, to be the head of the Slovenian diplomatic service. I am thinking in particular of the new acquaintances I have made, the new knowledge I have acquired, the new experiences I have had, and the relations I have developed with people all over the world. I hope to build on the many contacts we made during our campaign for membership of the Security Council. A great task has been accomplished – now, we must be able to capitalise on it.

Once again, I would like to publicly express my sincere appreciation to you for your contribution to strengthening the Slovenian diplomatic service and Slovenia's role in a changed geopolitical reality.

Thank you for your attention."