π Tender Overview
Slovenia will enter the second half of its membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on 1 January 2025. In its first year, it has established itself as a principled, responsible and respected member that has consistently respected the UN Charter and international law in its operations. Slovenia joined the Security Council a year ago in an extremely challenging period, three months after the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza, which further divided the international community and thus the world body for peace and security. In the past year, the Security Council has been unable to find a solution and stop the suffering of civilians not only in Gaza, but also in Sudan, Ukraine, Yemen, Myanmar and Haiti. Two permanent members have repeatedly blocked the adoption of urgent decisions by using their vetoes. Of particular concern are the modest implementation of its decisions, violations of the UN Charter and international law, and the continuation of Russian aggression against Ukraine. These circumstances have significantly weakened its ability to maintain international peace and security.
As a member of the group of ten elected members of the Security Council, Slovenia has actively contributed to the efforts to end the war in Gaza and has consistently strengthened its coordinating role. UN Security Council Resolution 2728, which it submitted with the group in March, was the first UN Security Council resolution to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The resolution also called for the release of hostages and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid.
The draft of the second resolution of the elected members on Gaza, which the SC voted on in November, followed a call by Prime Minister Dr. Robert Golob during Slovenia's presidency in September. At that time, due to the catastrophic situation on the ground, the Prime Minister initiated a "new humanitarian resolution on Palestine" at an emergency session on Gaza. This resolution also demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and called for the unhindered delivery of large-scale humanitarian aid and the unconditional release of all hostages. It was supported by 14 members, but its adoption was blocked by a US veto.
At the proposal of Slovenia, Jordan and Kuwait, an initiative was launched in July to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). By joining the initiative, 123 UN members confirmed the irreplaceability of the agency, the pillar of survival for millions of Palestinian refugees, and the necessity of its adequate funding. Slovenia significantly increased its contribution to UNRWA in 2024.
"We can be proud of Slovenia's position and role in the Security Council. The expertise and competence of diplomacy have ensured that our positions are visible. They have been reported by the world's media. Slovenia has established itself as a respected and credible partner that has treated all crisis areas equally. It left its most visible mark in the past year in attempts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and in its unifying role within the group of elected members. The group twice submitted a resolution on Gaza due to the lack of coordination among the permanent members. Slovenia also took advantage of its political role during its presidency and, despite the high level of division in the Security Council, negotiated the adoption of the presidential statement on leadership for peace, which is considered an official document of the body. We will address the challenges of the coming year with the same zeal, responsibility and focus on the most vulnerable," emphasized Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon at the turn of the membership in the Security Council.
"The Security Council has as much power as the member states give it. And last year, its hands were tied several times. Instead of resolving existing conflicts, new ones are opening up, and the number of civilian deaths is at a record high. Despite this, we are investing great efforts in continuous dialogue and looking for common denominators for adopting solutions. Despite the stalemate, these are still being found, which is confirmed by the presidential statement of the Security Council adopted in September. The drivers of 2025 will be the search for consensus among members, preventing walls and building bridges," assessed Slovenia's representative in the Security Council, Ambassador Samuel Ε½bogar.
