Photo: Administration of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria
President of the Republic attends the Aqaba Process for the Balkans III meeting
The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, attended the Aqaba Process for the Balkans III meeting of heads of state and government in Sofia. The President emphasised that meetings such as the Aqaba Process are of utmost importance and that world leaders must do everything in their power to promote cooperation, open new paths and protect the institutions that the international community has built over decades.
Sofija, Bolgarija, 4 Apr 2025
News
The Aqaba Process is a counter-terrorism initiative launched in 2015 by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, who, together with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, hosted this meeting in Sofia. The initiative aims to strengthen international and regional cooperation in the fight against terrorism, extremism and radical ideologies. At a dinner and a day-long meeting, leaders discussed the current security situation in the Balkans, regional mechanisms for information sharing, capacity building and cooperation in combating irregular migration and terrorism, as well as enhancing the resilience of vulnerable communities.
According to the Global Terrorism Index, 7,550 people died in terrorist attacks in 66 countries in 2024. Seven European countries are among the 50 countries most affected by terrorist attacks last year, with Germany being the most affected. A total of 98% of deaths from terrorist attacks occurred in or near areas of armed conflict. As the President of the Republic has repeatedly pointed out, there are currently 69 armed conflicts taking place around the world – the highest number since the Second World War – involving 91 countries. That is why the President firmly advocates the position that the only way to combat terrorism is to prevent and resolve armed conflicts. She believes that peace agreements cannot be imposed. If they are to be respected and lead to long-term reconciliation, they must be based on international law, accountability and justice.
On the margins of the event, the President also met with His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The President thanked King Abdullah II for organising the meeting, which she believes will contribute to improving cooperation between countries in combating terrorism. In their talks, they focused on relations between Jordan and Slovenia and current international challenges, concluding their meeting with a commitment to continue working towards deepening relations between the two countries and jointly contributing to a more stable and secure world.
