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Minister Fajon: 'At the Washington Summit; NATO allies will speak with unity and resolve'

Minister Tanja Fajon attended an informal meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Prague to prepare for the Washington Summit in July. In her intervention, Minister Fajon stressed that "Slovenia's actions are underpinned by the values of democracy, international law and solidarity. As a responsible member of the Security Council, Slovenia is doing its utmost to contribute to peace and security in the world."

Foreign Ministers agreed that long-term and resolute support to Ukraine remains a priority for NATO. "It is important that we as allies stand united on the issue of the Russian aggression in Ukraine and that we send a clear message to Russia, the aggressor in this case, through our response, our long-term planning and our support to Ukraine in defence of its territorial integrity and sovereignty. A clear message that the war must end and that the killing of innocent civilians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure is unacceptable," the Minister said. She added that Slovenia supports all efforts that would lead to a lasting and just peace in Ukraine and that accountability for war crimes must be ensured.

"Slovenia is also concerned about the dire situation in Gaza. The war must end and a lasting ceasefire must be achieved. Additional humanitarian aid must also be provided and civilians living in appalling conditions must be protected. A two-state solution is the only possible path to peace in the Middle East. This is one of the reasons why the Government of the Republic of Slovenia has adopted a decision recognising the independence and sovereignty of Palestine," continued Minister Fajon.

In her address, Fajon drew special attention to the Western Balkans region, which is of strategic importance for NATO, and advocated a transatlantic perspective for the countries in the region.

In the context of the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington, Slovenia also supported the further strengthening of political dialogue with Indo-Pacific partners: Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand. These countries and the Alliance share the same values and many global challenges. The Asia-Pacific region is becoming increasingly important not only for the security of allies, but also for global security and economic growth.