Statement by Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations Samuel Žbogar at UNGA Informal meeting of the plenary to commemorate the eightieth anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations

Mr. President,

Peace. That was in the minds of the delegates who travelled from New York to San Francisco in April 1945. It took “the peace train” four days to arrive.

Along the journey, people were cheering, music was playing, church bells were ringing. This is how a delegate of Yugoslavia, a Slovenian Stane Kraševec remembered those days. It was a celebration of a new era, a celebration of peace.

San Francisco delegates matched peoples enthusiasm and expectations by agreeing and signing the UN Charter.

In the years that followed we have achieved significant progress.

We have also come to understand that peace is not given. That UN power of rules does not have immunity against the power of might.

While we have avoided another global war, we are faced with the highest number of conflicts, the highest number of civilians and the highest number of refugees.

People continue to turn to the UN for solutions, for salvation. But it seems we are not able to match their expectations.

Today, when we celebrate the UN Charter which remains as valid as ever, we should admit that the state of the world is in dire need of leadership, of leadership for peace.

This is time to renew our commitment to multilateralism and build a new cross regional coalition of the willing to protect the system of collective security built around the UN, its Charter, and international law.  

We are on our “peace-train” now.

Because “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war” as stated in the UN Charter is now our responsibility.

Thank you.

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