Statement by the Permanent Representative of Slovenia Samuel Žbogar at the Open Debate on Maintenance of Peace and Security: The United Nations Organization: Looking into the Future

I would like to thank the Secretary General for his insightful remarks.

Mr. President,

Eleanor Roosevelt once said that it isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough just to believe in it. One must work at it.

With this, she perfectly captured the spirit and determination of the founders of the United Nations. An international architecture, permanently working on peace was needed. A system to save us, and the future generations from war.

The UN Charter, born out of those convictions, remains an inspiring document. It was fit to address the challenges of 80 years ago, and it is fit to tackle today’s. This truly amazing feat of legal and diplomatic engineering reflects the wisdom and foresight of its authors.

The Charter, this tiny booklet, and the impressive Organization that sprang from it, are on everyone’s mind in this chamber today.  While the horrors of the World Wars dictated a new approach to international relations, they also taught us that humanity could only be saved from the scourge of war if human rights are respected and protected. If dignity of every person is upheld. If international obligations are honored. If better standards of life are attainable, and if there is freedom for all.

193 of us have ratified the Charter. Unfortunately, many have forgotten its contents, or chosen to outright ignore it. In parallel, conflicts are running at an all-time high, with unprecedented civilian casualties and without accountability.

Since Slovenia entered this Council, we have been asking ourselves how to reinvigorate the spirit that prevailed after World War II. How to reverse the erosion of international law and the spirit of UN Charter. This led us to hold the “Leadership for Peace” open debate last year. The engagement of the membership and their messages then and now are encouraging.

Mr. President,

I will make two points about how Slovenia sees the UN’s future.

Firstly, the achievements of the past must be protected. Peace and cooperation are not a given – we must work for them each and every day.

We also need to give credit where credit is due. We should not forget the remarkable accomplishments the UN has delivered throughout the decades: the progressive development of international law, deployment of peacekeeping operations, delivery of lifesaving humanitarian aid, prosecution of war crimes, fostering sustainable development, combatting climate change, and the list goes on.

However, the mounting violations of the Charter and the international law in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and elsewhere are putting these achievements at risk. These breaches of international law and the disregard for the protection of civilians in armed conflict – especially women, children and older persons – threaten to drive our world into disorder and chaos. If we are unable to ensure accountability for the violations of the Charter, the future will indeed be grim.

Secondly, this Organization must be equipped to recognize and tackle the profound global transformation we are witnessing. Climate change, environmental degradation and water-related risks can fuel conflicts. Cyberattacks can cripple critical infrastructure and bring whole societies to a standstill. Terrorism continues to threaten the well-being of our citizens.

These security concerns do not stop at our borders. They represent a common and global threat to peace and security, which calls for collective action. The Council cannot afford to shy away from addressing them.

Mr. President,

Humanity’s best option for tackling the future and the challenges it brings, is to maintain and further strengthen the UN umbrella. For this reason, Slovenia supports the Secretary-General’s UN80 initiative, striving for a more responsive, efficient and resilient United Nations. In the same vein, we emphasize the need to implement the Pact of the Future – including the reform of this Council – to make it more transparent, inclusive and accountable.

Mr. President,

Let me conclude by underlining that, we will strengthen the UN most effectively by abandoning double standards. If you hold dear the principle of territorial integrity – afford it to you neighbor too. If sovereignty is at the tip of your tongue – allow it for everyone else as well. If you truly value peaceful settlement of disputes – agree to a ceasefire.

This organization was founded on the conviction that humanity is capable of more than pursuit of unilateral interest. For the UN to truly work, each one of us must be willing to set aside certain differences and leave some baggage behind.

Perhaps we shall feel inspired by the words of Trygve Lie, quote: “I shall take all the troubles of the past, all the disappointments, all the headaches, and I shall pack them in a bag and throw them in the East River,” unquote.

Let us look towards the future with optimism and let us work together toward common goals.

I thank you.

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