Slovenia wants to be a mindful global partner in dialogue
During her visit to New York, the President of the Republic of Slovenia held several bilateral meetings on the margins of the UN Water Conference. She visited Columbia University as a special guest of a series of talks with world leaders, where she discussed the importance of human rights in the age of information technology with the students. She concluded her visit with a speech at a special reception in honour of women and girls in diplomacy, where she addressed female representatives of the UN diplomatic corps.
New York, USA, 24 Mar 2023
News
The President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar is concluding her visit to New York today, where she participated in the UN Water Conference and held several bilateral meetings.
On the margins of the conference, the President met with the Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović, the President of the Republic of Iraq Abdul Latif Rashid, the President of the Republic of Botswana Mokgweetsi Masisi, the President of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly Csaba Kőrösi, and the UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women Sima Bahous.
At the heart of all bilateral discussions was the agreement that the United Nations needs regular intergovernmental dialogue on water. “The last UN conference dedicated solely to water was in 1977. Nearly half a century has passed before the next conference, and circumstances have changed significantly. We are facing climate change and other social and natural factors, and water is connected to all of us. That is why we must protect it or we will all suffer the consequences of its shortage, without exception,” said President Pirc Musar, summing up her impressions after her discussions with world leaders. In her discussions with her counterparts, President Pirc Musar also touched upon the topics of gender equality, human rights and multilateral cooperation, without which we cannot address today’s challenges, let alone solve them.
“International conferences are an exceptional opportunity to meet with the highest representatives of countries from all over the world. After the talks in Doha and New York, I find that we have a lot in common, especially in the area of environmental protection and climate change. The UN Water Conference was also an opportunity to sit down at the same table and present our priorities to each other. In addition to water diplomacy, environmental protection, and biodiversity conservation, we also discussed the security aspect of these challenges. The meetings were thus an opportunity for me to present Slovenia’s priorities in this area, including the substantive aspects of Slovenia’s candidacy for a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. I emphasised the fact that Slovenia wants to be a mindful partner in dialogue," said the President of the Republic of Slovenia, who told world leaders that Slovenia will advocate for decisive action and global solidarity, and above all for the inclusion of the most vulnerable groups in the policy-making and decision-making process.
On the eve of the conference, President Pirc Musar attended a working dinner hosted by the co-presidents of the conference, Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan, and Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands.
Yesterday, President Pirc Musar visited Columbia University as a special guest in a series of talks with world leaders. She discussed Human Rights and Information Technology: A Comparative View of Europe and the United States with the students. The President shared her experience with personal data protection in Slovenia and abroad, which included her role as President of the Europol Joint Supervisory Body (JSB Europol). “Privacy is very delicate and can easily be endangered if not protected consistently and accurately,” emphasised the President when asked by students about the role of the media in relation to disinformation, hate speech, and the legal regulation of artificial intelligence. She concluded the debate with Martin Luther King Jr.’s thought that “our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter,” and urged young people not to be afraid to speak up, as they must actively participate in shaping the future.
The President concluded her visit to New York with a speech at a special reception in honour of women and girls in diplomacy, where she addressed female representatives of the United Nations diplomatic corps. She said that women were breaking glass ceilings with the hope that generations of girls will be able to live in a more equal society and highlighted the leading role of women in social change.
The President was accompanied at the conference by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon and Minister of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning Uroš Brežan.
President Pirc Musar and His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands.
Bilateral meeting with the Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović.
Bilateral meeting with the President of the Repulic of Iraq Abdul Latif Rashid.
Bilateral meeting with the President of the Republic of Botswana Makgweetsi Masisi.
Bilateral meeting with the UN Undersecretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women Sima Bahous.
Bilateral meeting with the President of the 77th UN General Assembly Csaba Kőrösi.
Talking with students at the Columbia University.
World Leaders Forum at the Columbia University.
Reception in honour of women in diplomacy.
