State Secretary Dr Melita Gabrič attended the 10th MED Mediterranean Dialogues Conference in Rome. The conference is one of the main platforms for high-level dialogue on topical issues in the Mediterranean, the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) and beyond.

Yesterday, State Secretary Marko Štucin attended high-level meetings on the situation in Gaza and Ukraine at the United Nations Security Council. On behalf of Slovenia, he called for more decisive action by the Security Council and respect for international and human rights law.

In October, under the Swiss presidency of the UN Security Council, discussions were focused on Africa, the Middle East, Ukraine and Haiti. Two briefings were convened at Slovenia's request, one together with Algeria on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and another with the US on Ukraine. State Secretary Melita Gabrič took part in the open debate on women, peace and security.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon participated in the 9th UfM Regional Forum in Barcelona together with 43 foreign ministers and their deputies from the Euro-Mediterranean region. Thanks to its increased engagement in the UfM, Slovenia has been recognised as a very active and constructive member in recent years," said Minister Fajon.

Minister Tanja Fajon took part in the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting. The main topics on the agenda were Russian aggression against Ukraine and the Middle East. On the margins of the meeting, the EU foreign ministers met informally with their British counterpart David Lammy. Other current foreign policy issues – Moldova, Georgia, Sudan, Somalia, Venezuela and relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan – were also discussed.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today attended a summit of the Mediterranean EU countries, MED9, in Paphos, Cyprus. The summit was also attended by the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

Slovenia will provide half a million euros for emergency humanitarian aid to Lebanon. Together with the Slovenian Karitas, the strategic partner for the emergency humanitarian response, and the ITF - Enhancing Human Security, the assistance in the form of basic necessities will be targeted at the most vulnerable internally displaced persons, with a special focus on women, children and the elderly.

State Secretary Marko Štucin participated in an extraordinary informal videoconference of EU Foreign Ministers, convened by Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to discuss the escalating situation in Lebanon following the intensified conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today addressed the UN General Assembly. In his speech, he touched upon the most pressing issues of our time, focusing on peace and security in the international community, the reform of the Security Council, the climate crisis and humanity.

On the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Minister Tanja Fajon led an informal dialogue between the Security Council and the League of Arab States on the escalating situation in the Middle East, efforts to organise a peace conference for a lasting peace and a two-state solution, and the indispensable role of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, chaired an emergency Security Council meeting on Lebanon. Slovenia, which holds the Presidency of the UN Security Council for this month, convened the emergency meeting in the light of the escalating situation and at the request of France.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan took part in the virtual ministerial conference of the OECD and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The event was convened under the title: Designing a Roadmap for Recovery in MENA.

The Slovenian Government has allocated, through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Caritas Internationalis, a contribution of EUR 200,000 for the people of Beirut. In addition, as part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, Slovenia today deployed to Beirut a logistics expert, who is part of the EU Civil Protection Team.

On behalf of the Slovenian government, Prime Minister Janez Janša sent a cable of condolences to the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Hassan Diab, expressing his shock at the loss of lives and offered support and help after the devastating explosion in the port of Beirut on Tuesday, 4 August 2020, in late afternoon hours.

On Monday, July 20, Shamaa military base in Lebanon was the venue of a handover ceremony between the 27th and 28th Slovenian UNIFIL contingents.