Designating 2024 as a year dedicated to the search for peaceful resolutions of wars and conflicts - promoting humanity, cooperation and justice

In her keynote address, the Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar highlighted the four main areas on which the country's foreign policy will focus this year: the peaceful resolution of conflicts, the climate crisis, artificial intelligence and the fight against disinformation, and the strengthening of multilateralism, in particular of the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN).

President Pirc Musar noted that the past year had not been encouraging, with no end to the war in Ukraine, but with a new bloody conflict emerging in the Middle East, namely the horrific attack by Hamas on innocent civilians in Israel on 7 October, followed by Israel's violent assault on Gaza. She drew attention to the growing number of civilian casualties in Gaza, where, she said, we were witnessing a trampling of humanity and a blatant disregard for humanitarian and human rights law. "All of this unfolded in a year that marked the 75th anniversary of the adoption of one of history's greatest documents – the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," she reminded the audience, strongly advocating the peaceful resolutions of conflicts and a just peace based on respect for international law and human rights, in which the International Criminal Court has a crucial role to play. "Without holding those responsible for crimes to account, a true and just peace remains unattainable. Not in Ukraine, Gaza, Israel, or anywhere else," she said.

2023 also marks a year of climate records, with many countries, including Slovenia, hit by extreme weather events. The Slovenian President once again thanked the representatives of the countries in attendance for their help and solidarity in the aftermath of last year's floods in Slovenia. She also called for a more ambitious agreement on the transition away from fossil fuels than that adopted at the COP28. "We need a clear agreement on phasing out greenhouse gases, emissions and fossil fuel subsidies," she said, adding "and we need to promote the use of renewable energy sources."

President Pirc Musar also highlighted the need to establish global rules for the ethical use of artificial intelligence. "Again, the EU is taking the lead by spearheading the developing international standards through the AI Act," she said, expressing concern about the rise of disinformation, which is having a major impact on people, especially in a year when more than 4 billion people around the world will go to the polls. "This year's election cycle will be all the more important for defending effective multilateralism, international commitments on climate, respect for human rights, and the pursuit of a more tolerant and inclusive society," she assessed, reminding the audience that it is primarily politicians and public figures, who are responsible for a tolerant public discourse.

As a newly elected non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Slovenia believes in the power and strengthening of multilateralism to address global challenges and problems.

"Given the intertwined and complex nature of the crises, the world needs more cooperation between countries and strict respect for international law. It needs an effective UN to be able respond to global challenges more quickly," President Pirc Musar told the assembled diplomats and added that this year Slovenia would celebrate the 20th anniversary of its membership of the EU and NATO. "Being a member of both is something that identifies and guides us. Slovenia will strive for an even more integrated, stronger and larger European Union," the President made it clear. She also emphasised the role of the Western Balkans, whose future lies in the EU, and called for even closer cooperation between the countries in the Brdo-Brijuni process.

The representatives of the Diplomatic Corps in the Republic of Slovenia were also addressed by Prime Minister Robert Golob and by the Doyen of Diplomatic Corps, Apostolic Nuncio to Slovenia Jean-Marie Speich.