Statement by Representative of Slovenia to the UN Security Council Ambassador Samuel Žbogar at the briefing on the threats to international peace and security

Thank you Madam President.

I also want to thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari and Mr. Knights for their briefings.

Slovenia condemns the latest escalation taking place in the Middle East, injecting a new wave of fear across the region. A series of Houthi attacks responded by a series of Israeli retaliations caused casualties and severe damage to civilian infrastructure. We were especially concerned over airstrikes on the Red Sea ports and Sana’a airport.

Such actions pose grave risk to humanitarian operations.

These attacks demonstrate the level of disrespect for international law and international humanitarian law in recent Middle East conflicts when no one is safe, not even the highest representatives of the UN System. The rules that were built over decades to govern order in international community, should not be dismissed with such unbearable lightness of irresponsibility.

We underline that international law, including international humanitarian law, must be respected. All attacks on civilian population centers, infrastructure and objects are prohibited. We call for respect and protection of humanitarian personnel.

Let us be clear: expressing solidarity with Palestinians in their quest for peace cannot be pursued through ballistic missiles and drones. Such actions desecrate Palestinian suffering in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Equally, ensuring security to your own nation cannot be achieved at the cost of suffering of other nation’s civilians, many of them already experiencing years of dire humanitarian situation. Such sense of security is fragile and short lived.

Madam President,

I want to address the regional dynamics. As the region is navigating through confrontations and escalations, we continue to urge for restraint in action and in words. Every single actor must play its role in that regard – those actively involved and those supporting different players. The latter’s responsibility has significantly increased given that the hands of the Security Council are being tied.

We call for de-escalation and contribution to the stabilization. This is not through tit-for-tat which is not in anyone’s interest and does not serve anyone’s security.

What is in everyone’s interest, is a joint pursuit of peace. In this season marked by compassion and reflection, we once again underscore the imperative of an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza as well as reaching a negotiated political solution to the conflict in Yemen.

Finally, as this seems to be the last regular meeting of the Security Council for this year, I would like to thank you, Madam President and the United States, for your able leadership during the month of December.

I would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing members of the Council, Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland for their effective and constructive cooperation in ensuring international peace and security. At the same time, we welcome the incoming members, Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia and we look forward to working with them.

Thank you.

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