Foreign Minister Anže Logar addressed the participants at the beginning of the third Latin American and Caribbean Days international conference organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the auspices of the Bled Strategic Forum.

Today, State Secretary Stanislav Raščan participated in the virtual XII EU-LAC Reflection Forum organised by the European Union - Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Foundation in cooperation with the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the LAC Days 2021 international conference.

In response to some inappropriate reactions related to the presentation of credentials by the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Romania, Lea Stančič, in Moldova, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to make it known that the highest diplomatic representatives of the State may, in accordance with international diplomatic practice and generally accepted and established principles and customs of diplomacy, wear national costume or traditional clothing on special occasions, such as the ceremony of presenting credentials to the President of the receiving State or sovereign of the country. In some countries, this practice is even recommended.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan addressed the participants of the 17th Conference of Speakers of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative on behalf of Foreign Minister Anže Logar. The online conference, organised within the framework of Slovenia's AII Chairmanship, was hosted by the President of the National Assembly of Slovenia Igor Zorčič.

Director-General for EU Affairs Barbara Sušnik attended a videoconference of the EU Council Presidency Trio of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan, together with Portugal’s Minister of Environment and Energy Transition João Pedro Matos Fernandes and European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius, represented the European side at the EU-Brazil High-level Dialogue on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development. The Brazilian side was, amongst others, represented by Foreign Minister Carlos Alberto França and Minister of Environment Ricardo Salles, who will head the Brazilian delegation at the COP26 climate summit.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar today attended the international Raisina Dialogue conference. Organised by the Observer Research Foundation and the Indian External Affairs Ministry, it is one of the leading global platforms aimed at in‑depth geopolitical and geoeconomic discussions.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar held talks via videoconference with the Bavarian State Minister for European and International Affairs Melanie Huml. Their discussion focused on the activities aimed at strengthening political, economic, and regional cooperation with Bavaria in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the upcoming Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar today held a telephone conversation with Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita. The ministers expressed a shared wish to strengthen bilateral relations and went on to exchange views on current regional issues.

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.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia Anže Logar is hosting Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia Nikola Dimitrov on an official visit. Minister Logar expressed continued support for North Macedonia on its path towards European Union membership and outlined the key priorities of Slovenia’s EU Council Presidency.

Ten years ago, millions of Syrians took to the streets of Dara’a, Aleppo and Damascus, calling for democracy and respect of their fundamental rights and basic freedoms. The brutal response by the regime triggered over the span of a decade one of the most serious criminal enterprises and humanitarian crises since the Second World War resulting in more than 400 000 deaths and in countless violations of human rights.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan and State Secretary for EU Affairs of North Macedonia, Kalinka Gaber, today held a discussion expressing satisfaction with the excellent relations between the two countries.

The Director-General for European Union Affairs, Ambassador Barbara Sušnik, today held bilateral consultations with Slovakia by videoconference. She and the Slovak Director-General for European Affairs, Tomáš Kozák, exchanged views on topical bilateral, European, and international issues.

The International Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI) is a newly established category II centre set up at the Jožef Stefan Institute under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the first and the only centre directly focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) with global outreach. The establishment of the IRCAI centre in Slovenia demonstrates that Slovenian researchers play a leading role in this field of scientific research and that the country provides a stimulating environment for developing a centre of this kind.

Today saw the start of the 11th session of the United Nations Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, which will take place until 1 April 2021. In addition to a high panel on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on older persons, this year's session will focus on the “Right to Work and Access to the Labour Market” and “Access to Justice”.

On 24 and 25 March 2021, a delegation of the Republic of Slovenia and Acting Director-General for International Law and Protection of Interests Marko Rakovec participated in the 60th meeting of the Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law (CAHDI) of the Council of Europe.

Today, 17 years ago, Slovenia became a full member of NATO, the most effective alliance in the history of mankind, joined by 30 countries from all over the world. As part of today’s short celebration, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar, together with Slovenia’s first Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Council, Ambassador Matjaž Šinkovec, officially raised the NATO flag in front of the Ministry.

This week is marked by the first part of the Generation Equality Forum, which takes place between 29 and 31 March 2021 in Ciudad de México. The second part will be held in Paris towards the end of June under the auspices of French President Emmanuel Macron. The event is set up as an initiative to promote gender equality and women’s rights based on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted in 1995. Mainly organised by UN Women, Mexico and France in cooperation with civil society, the Forum aims to strengthen and encourage countries to commit to concrete action to achieve genuine gender equality by 2030.

Today, at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar, the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Lucian Aurescu is paying an official visit to Slovenia. The visit is aimed at strengthening friendly relations between Slovenia and Romania and further deepening their cooperation within regional and international forums as well as on issues that are key to European citizens.