Foreign Minister Dr Anže Logar today took part in a video conference of EU ministers of foreign affairs, which was led by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. The central topic of the fourth video conference of foreign ministers was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the regions of North Africa and the wider Middle East. Minister Logar was pleased to inform his European colleagues that, as of today, Slovenia has declared an official end to its COVID-19 epidemic as a result of good epidemiological results.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan represented Slovenia at the virtual meeting of CEI Heads of Government on behalf of Prime Minister Janez Janša and Foreign Minister Dr Anže Logar, who had previously scheduled commitments. The 31st CEI Summit focused on a debate about the situation, measures, and regional cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In today’s telephone conversation with the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok, Minister Dr Logar pointed out The Netherlands as an important trade partner and political ally of Slovenia. The main topics were the cooperation in the run-up to Slovenia’s 2021 EU Council presidency, the coordination in the easing of restrictive measures and joint action aimed at a rapid economic recovery after the pandemic.

At today’s video conference, Foreign Minister Dr Anže Logar and Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Jacek Czaputowicz called for further strengthening of the cooperation between Slovenia and Poland both at the bilateral level and within regional and supra-regional initiatives. Slovenia and Poland are partners within the EU and allies within NATO, sharing numerous positions on significant international issues.

To mark the 70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, the Florence-based Historical Archives of the European Union have mounted an exhibition entitled “Europe and Europeans 1950>2020”.

A united and connected EU remains Slovenia’s priority foreign policy interest, as clearly defined in all relevant strategic documents and confirmed by referendum. Slovenia will remain committed to consolidating the European project and to EU enlargement, provided the strict conditions of the enlargement process are met.

During today's video call, Minister Dr Anže Logar and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain Arancha González Laya confirmed mutual interest in further enhancing friendly cooperation between the two countries, also in view of Slovenia's upcoming EU Council Presidency and combating the Covid-19 pandemic that has hit Spain particularly hard.

On 8 May, Iztok Grmek, Acting Director-General for Economic and Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, attended the video-conference of the 17+1 Initiative, led by Qin Gang, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and Secretary General of the 17+1 Initiative.

At today’s video conference, Minister Dr Anže Logar and French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed mutual interest in further strenghthening the strategic partnership between the two countries, holders of successive EU Council presidencies.

We, the Ministers of South Africa, Sweden, Argentina, Australia, Albania, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cabo Verde, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Namibia, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, are honored to issue this joint statement on behalf of the people and governments of 58 countries: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Cabo Verde, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Namibia, Netherlands, North Macedonia, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Serbia, South Africa, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Ukraine and Uruguay.

Foreign Minister Dr Anže Logar participated at today's virtual pledging event hosted by the European Commission as part of a unified global response to the Covid-19 outbreak. On behalf of Slovenia, Minister Logar pledged EUR 13,760,000 for finding a cure and vaccine, and improving diagnostics to combat the disease.

In a videoconference call, Ministers Logar and Maas confirmed excellent relations between Slovenia and Germany and their shared positions on a number of important international issues. This was Minister Logar’s introductory visit to Berlin, which took place virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Minister Logar stressed the importance of political and economic ties with Germany, Slovenia’s most important foreign trade partner. He welcomed the strategic partnership between the two countries and expressed support for the activities aimed at implementing the 2019-21 working programme.

At the outset, Minister Logar expressed solidarity and sympathy over the Covid-19 victims in the US.

The Slovenian Foreign Minister and the US Secretary of State called for further strengthening of friendly ties between the two allies and stressed the importance of close transatlantic partnership in dealing with the current pandemic. They addressed a number of topical international issues.

Foreign Minister Logar held a videoconference call with Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva, discussing the preparations for the 2021 presidency of the EU Council by Slovenia and Portugal. The counterparts expressed satisfaction with the excellent collaboration between the two countries during the preparations for the 18-month trio presidency.

The international community today marks the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace. Efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic underscore the importance of transparent and effective multilateral cooperation in seeking joint responses to the crisis.

Today, on 22 April, as we mark Earth Day for the 50th year, the world focuses on climate and environmental challenges.

Today, Foreign Minister Dr Anže Logar received the Apostolic Nuncio and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in the Republic of Slovenia, Archbishop Jean-Marie Antoine Joseph Speich.

The emergence of a novel coronavirus, its rapid spread and subsequent declaration of a pandemic have posed a common challenge to the employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs both in internal and foreign service: Covid-19.

At the outbreak of the pandemic, the Slovenian authorities advised against all travel and repeatedly called on Slovenian citizens to postpone their travel plans. This also applies to the coming Easter season.

State Secretary Tone Kajzer attended an informal meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in the format of development cooperation ministers via an audio/video conference. The ministers discussed the EU’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and upheld a joint approach to assist partner countries termed ‘Team Europe’. The main goal is to ensure emergency assistance to partner countries, particularly the most vulnerable countries in Africa, the European neighbourhood and the Western Balkans, and at the same time to strengthen the EU’s role and increase the visibility of its development and humanitarian aid.