As long as full social inclusion of women is not taken for granted, peace processes will not be stable

In her forum address, President Pirc Musar stressed the important role of women in today’s world, which is sadly marked by wars, violence and conflicts, and expressed concern over the growing gender inequality around the world. According to her, gender equality is essential to achieving lasting peace, stability and development. She called special attention to the need for the greater involvement of women in peace and decision-making processes at all levels: "As long as full social inclusion, especially of women, is not taken for granted, neither will peace processes be stable nor will the situation of women and girls improve significantly. This also applies to many other issues that are linked to social problems, such as climate change."

As part of the forum, the President also met with the host, Kosovan President Vjosa Osmani Sandriu. They talked about the economic cooperation between the two countries, regional cooperation, with a focus on the Brdo–Brijuni Process, and the current situation in the Western Balkan region and its European future. "Slovenia strongly supports Kosovo’s path to European integration, including the Council of Europe, and thus the need for continuous and increased cooperation between Kosovo and the European Union. I am thoroughly convinced that integration into the European family is key to the stability and development of not only Kosovo but the entire region," said the President at the meeting with her Kosovan counterpart, reiterating that the EU must keep its promises in the process of integration, while the countries in the region have the responsibility to implement the necessary reforms within the agreed timeframes. After the forum, President Pirc Musar also held a bilateral meeting with the President of the Republic of Albania, Bajram Begaj.

Later in the day, the President will go to the Film City military base in Pristina to meet with the Commander of KFOR, Major General Özkan Ulutaş. Members of the Slovenian contingent will also brief her on the security situation and the tasks of the SVNKON 48 as part of the KFOR mission in the Republic of Kosovo.

The President’s visit is an affirmation of good bilateral relations and continued ongoing political dialogue between the two countries, both at the bilateral and regional levels. At the same time, the President’s visit to Kosovo rounds off a series of meetings with the presidents of Western Balkan countries announced at the beginning of her term to strengthen the region’s European future. As part of these meetings, the President visited Croatia, North Macedonia and Serbia in 2023 and hosted the Albanian and Montenegrin Presidents in Slovenia. This year, the President visited Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo and will attend the Slovenian-Montenegrin economic forum in Montenegro in April and pay a visit to Albania in May. Slovenia’s wholehearted support to the European perspective of the Western Balkans is also demonstrated by the presidents’ regular meetings as part of the Brdo–Brijuni initiative. Last year, they met in North Macedonia, with another meeting scheduled for Montenegro this year.