State Secretary Štucin attends Foreign Affairs Council

In the debate on the Russian aggression against Ukraine, State Secretary Štucin welcomed the joint statement on the United States-Ukraine meeting in Jeddah, which includes a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. “This is an important step on the road to peace, but it is now up to Russia to show that it is prepared to accept the proposal. It is crucial that Ukraine is included in the peace negotiations, that it is part of these talks and that any agreement includes sufficient security guarantees for Ukraine.” According to State Secretary Štucin, Slovenia will continue to provide political support as well as humanitarian, military and other assistance to Ukraine.

The discussion on the situation in the Middle East focused on the escalating humanitarian and security situation in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as on the Arab plan for the reconstruction of Gaza recently adopted in Cairo. State Secretary Štucin said that Slovenia calls for the early implementation of the second phase of the agreement between Israel and Hamas, which should lead to a permanent ceasefire. He stressed the importance of continued humanitarian aid to Gaza and uninterrupted water and electricity supply, and called for EU financial support to strengthen the Palestinian Authority. “We welcome the adoption of the comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of Gaza at the Extraordinary Arab Summit in Cairo on 4 March, which inter alia underlines the importance of Arab and Palestinian ownership of the reconstruction process itself. The reconstruction of Gaza will be the key to lasting peace and long-term stability, and the EU will play an important role in this process. Slovenia is opposed to any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, as this is a serious violation of international law and would further destabilise the region,” Štucin said. 

Foreign ministers then discussed the security situation in Syria, the continuation of an inclusive transition and the EU's support for the process. They condemned the recent outbreak of violence in the coastal areas of Syria, called for an impartial investigation into the events, respect for international law and human rights, and called for the protection of the country's ethnic and religious diversity. They agreed on the need for the EU to continue to play an active role in supporting an inclusive political transition in which civil society and women are an integral part of the process. They welcomed the convening of the Brussels IX Conference on support to Syria, which followed the FAC meeting.

The discussion on Iran was transferred from the February session. The focus was on the current situation in the country and the future of the EU's relations with Iran. Slovenia supports a strategic approach towards Iran, a critical dialogue and open channels of diplomatic communication with Tehran.

In the discussion on EU-US relations, Ministers focused on the EU's priority messages and responses to the current US foreign policy orientations. State Secretary Štucin underlined that Slovenia supports continued proactive dialogue in transatlantic relations and the promotion of a positive agenda, while it is essential that the EU, also in its own interest and in line with its values, speaks with one voice and with coordinated positions and approaches.

Under “Other”, the situation in the Western Balkans was highlighted, in particular in the light of current developments in Serbia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ministers agreed on the need to keep the Western Balkans high on the EU agenda. State Secretary Štucin supported the call for an in-depth discussion at the April FAC meeting.

After the FAC meeting, State Secretary Marko Štucin attended the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: Meeting the Needs for a Successful Transition”. On behalf of Slovenia, he pledged a total of EUR 600,000 in humanitarian aid to Syria for the period 2025-2026 for a humanitarian demining project in north-eastern Syria to be implemented by ITF Enhancing Human Security.