Slovenia Weekly: The end and a new beginning

This year's 19th Bled Strategic Forum has come to an end. This year's meeting exceeded expectations in terms of the content of the discussions, which touched on all the current challenges facing the international community. The Forum brought together more than 180 speakers from 48 countries and 2500 participants. This proves that the Bled Strategic Forum is an established platform for the presentation of views, constructive debate, confrontation of different views and exchange of opinions, even when contradictory. "My conclusion from this forum is that we have confronted critical opinions and different views, but with the desire to reach a political solution, and this is what Slovenia will continue to do," said Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon.

On 1 September, Slovenia begins its first presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2024–2025. The central event of the Presidency will be an open, high-level discussion on Leadership for Peace, chaired by Prime Minister Robert Golob on 25 September, during the General Debate at the opening of the UN General Assembly. It is to discuss the relevance of the UNSC in an increasingly divided world. "Slovenia takes the helm of the guardian of international peace and security at a challenging time, a time when it seems to be less and less effective in resolving conflicts and its role is limited, but still indispensable," said Prime Minister Golob on assuming the presidency; among other things, he expects the debate to offer a frank exchange of views and reflection on the role of the UNSC.