Statement by Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations Samuel Žbogar at a high-level open debate on “Promoting International Peace and Security through Multilateralism and Peaceful Settlement of Disputes”, agenda item Maintenance of international peace and security

Thank you President, thank you Deputy Prime Minister Dar, for convening today’s very timely debate. We also want to thank the Secretary-General for his energizing briefing.

Peaceful settlement of disputes is a cornerstone of international law and the United Nations Charter. As a legal and moral duty, it rests squarely with the parties involved, in particular their leaders.

Drawing from our own experience, I can affirm that the peaceful resolution of any dispute requires courage, political will, determination, and time. These are often scarce commodities, especially in the moments of crisis, and must be demonstrated by all parties.

It is precisely why the role of the United Nations, including the Security Council, remains vital. Using tools provided by the Charter, we can offer constructive guidance and support in helping to prevent the crises.

Slovenia welcomes the resolution adopted today, although we would have wished a stronger voice of the United Nations Security Council on this matter. Allow me to raise the following points for consideration in today’s discussion:

Firstly, international law must be respected, complied with, and upheld. This includes international humanitarian law, international human rights law, as well as – in a broader sense – the Security Council resolutions, and all agreements and decisions reached through peaceful means, including judicial and arbitral rulings, orders and advisory opinions.

Often this Council is called upon to address complex and destabilizing situations that undermine regional stability, threaten peace and cost innocent civilian lives. These crises frequently stem from agreements that have been broken, commitments abandoned, and the political will diminished – replaced by misguided belief that the military solution is possible.

Respect for international law is not optional, nor is it something imposed on us. It is our voluntary and strong commitment – a fundamental obligation.

Secondly, there is no higher price than that of recovering and rebuilding a country torn apart by conflict, where the very social fabric of communities has been torn by the horrors of war. This is why preventing conflict is not only a moral imperative to avoid the human suffering, but also a shared strategic and economic necessity that requires the commitment of all; donors, large and small; public and private sector; and civil society alike.

Mindful that effective and sustainable conflict prevention and peacebuilding must be nationally led and owned, Slovenia encourages Council members to engage more in early warning efforts, including through the potential of new technologies. We should pay more attention to early indications of human rights violations and abuses. We must consider developments related to climate security, as proven useful across the West and Central Africa. The Council should collectively ensure that peace operations are guided and equipped to carry out preventive diplomacy and strengthen post-conflict democratic processes on the ground, as we have done after the civil wars in Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Finally, no agreement can withstand the test of time if it is not reached through an inclusive process. A peace agreement that excludes half of the population is unlikely to endure. The root causes of disputes, such as marginalization, historical grievances, and systemic inequalities, must be reflected at the very moment when leaders are working towards a peaceful settlement.

This is why Slovenia actively supports the inclusive participation of diverse civil society actors at all stages of conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding. Our commitment to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda has been further reinforced through our endorsement of the UN Secretary General’s Common Pledge for Women’s Full, Equal and Meaningful Participation in Peace Processes.

Women mediators and those with expertise on gender dimensions – supported by Slovenia through the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund – have consistently proven their ability to help achieve fairer, more inclusive, and longer-lasting peace agreements.

Agreements that the world we live in desperately needs.

Thank you.

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