"In today's world on the brink of war, every ounce of strength we possess counts when it comes to advancing the cause of peace. Including the power of words."

In her keynote address, the President of the Republic emphasised that the New Year's reception is more than purely a protocol event. "It is a symbol of Slovenia's respectful relationship with the international community. A relationship based on the belief that, even in the most challenging times, dialogue and a commitment to law remain indispensable."

President Pirc Musar warned of the dangers of increasingly unpredictable international environment and weakening multilateralism. "The language that is becoming prevalent in international relations is the language of isolationism, not multilateralism," she said, adding that "dialogue and the peaceful resolution of disputes based on international law are being replaced by the use of force, which is becoming an almost routine foreign policy instrument in many countries."

The President said that it is true that multilateralism can be imperfect and cumbersome and does not meet all the expectations. However, the policy of withdrawing from international organisations and international treaties, which will probably continue, has no future, as it is likely to bring more conflict and less cooperation. "Many of the world’s problems are shared, and they require a joint solution. Therefore, we must support international institutions as forums for negotiation and international law as an integral part of the modern international order for the peaceful resolution of disputes," she said.

The President placed particular emphasis on the state of democracy and solidarity in the world. She pointed out that democracy is increasingly under threat and said that she was proud that Slovenia is one of the 29 remaining liberal democracies. "The crisis of democracy and the lack of solidarity are linked to the acute challenges of the modern world that need to be addressed decisively. We must not fear them, we must not look away or, worse, pass them on to future generations," she said.

The President highlighted artificial intelligence and climate change as the key challenges of the modern world. "Every step in the development of advanced technology must be accompanied by critical educational content. Advanced technology must be addressed within clear ethical and legal frameworks," she warned. Nevertheless, she believes that adapting to climate change also brings opportunities through the green transition. "Combining economic growth with the production and use of renewable energy sources, while fostering entrepreneurship and solidarity, is an ideal that we should strive for."

The President also highlighted the role of Slovenia as an active and responsible member of international community and recalled Slovenia's engagement as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, where it strived for a principled, transparent and unifying action and consistent respect for international law.

The President said that international community must not accept the violations of fundamental principles, adding that the challenges that lie ahead, and the consequences that may arise if they remain unresolved, must not be underestimated and that we must not remain silent. She stressed that clear red lines must be drawn in adapting to the new reality. One such red line is genocidal behaviour, another the respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders.

The President of the Republic concluded her address with a call for closer ties among the countries that advocate a decisive and non-selective support for peace and the fundamental principles of international law. "Peace is one and indivisible," she stressed, adding: "In today's world on the brink of war, every ounce of strength we possess counts when it comes to advancing the cause of peace. Including the power of words. The more of us there are, the better organised we are, the more clearly we will be heard – and the harder it will be to ignore us, or treat us with contempt."