During the summer month of July, the Security Council addressed a wide range of international peace and security issues. It unanimously adopted a resolution on the peaceful resolution of disputes and welcomed the signing of the Peace Agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda. Together with its partners, Slovenia called for briefings on Gaza and Ukraine.

At the request of five European members of the Security Council, including Slovenia, the 15-member body held an urgent briefing to receive an update on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Slovenia called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, as well as the release of all hostages. “We need the political will to end this war and create peace,” said Ambassador Samuel Žbogar. In view of the worsening humanitarian crisis and military offensive, the Ambassador strongly condemned the continued killings of civilians.

The catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza was also a central topic in the Council’s quarterly open debate on the Middle East. Slovenia echoed the alarm raised by more than 100 humanitarian organizations regarding the widespread food insecurity and mass starvation across the Strip. It further called for humanitarian aid to be delivered at scale throughout the area. “The UN and its agencies are the only ones capable of undertaking this enormous task,” emphasized Ambassador Žbogar.

As the Russian Federation intensifies its attacks on Ukraine, Slovenia – together with its partners – called for a meeting of the Security Council. Tragically, the number of civilian casualties continues to rise, with repeated waves of missile and drone strikes causing severe damage to homes, schools and hospitals across Ukraine. The escalation of aggression was condemned by the Ambassador as a clear violation of international humanitarian law. He called for meaningful diplomatic efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Following the latest Israeli airstrikes on Syria in mid-July, the Security Council held an emergency briefing the next day. Ambassador Žbogar condemned the attacks, calling on all parties to fully respect the ceasefire. “We reiterate our urgent call for an immediate end to all violence across Syria,” he underscored, urging the Syrian government to protect all communities throughout the country. Respect for Syria’s independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity is essential for a viable political transition.

During the Pakistani Presidency, the Council unanimously adopted a resolution on conflict prevention and the peaceful resolution of disputes, which are cornerstone principles of the UN Charter. During the subsequent open debate, Slovenia underlined the importance of upholding international law, strengthening engagement in conflict prevention and promoting inclusive processes in order to achieve lasting peace. The pursuit of international peace and security through multilateralism and diplomacy should be a priority for all Member States.

Addressing the grave situation in Haiti, Slovenia called for all available UNSC tools to be used to eliminate the threats posed by armed gangs. It also expressed profound concern over the country’s dire humanitarian crisis. As Ambassador Žbogar underlined, Slovenia is ready to support the Secretary-General’s proposal to set up a UN Support Office within the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti. “We believe that such an arrangement would enable the MSS to fully carry out its mandate and, ultimately, deliver for the Haitian people,” the Ambassador stressed.

During the Security Council briefing on UN peace operations, Slovenia emphasized the need for sustained political support. Without a credible political process, the impact of such operations is inevitably limited. The ultimate goal of peacekeeping is not to maintain an indefinite deployment, but rather to create conditions that promote sustainable peace. Therefore, peace operations must be equipped with the necessary tools to fulfil their mandates. “However, no amount of tools can replace a people-centered approach“, stated Deputy Permanent Representative Ondina Blokar Drobič.

In July, the Security Council adopted a presidential statement on UN-OIC cooperation, as well as press statements on the signing of a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda and on the situation in the DRC. The Council also extended the mandates of the BINUH mission in Haiti and the UNMHA mission in Yemen and adopted a resolution renewing the Secretary-General’s monthly reporting mandate on attacks in the Red Sea. Lastly, sanctions targeting non-State armed groups and individuals operating in the Central African Republic have been extended.

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