Statement by H.E. Ms. Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, at the briefing on the situation in the Middle East, Lebanon

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia.

Excellencies,

More violence will not bring more security. Terrorism under disguise of solidarity or military operations under pretext of protection do not equal to more security. They translate only into suffering of civilians and postponement of meaningful diplomatic solutions. We need peace.

In line with what the Charter of this Organization and basic humanity expect from us: it is our job to achieve it.

Firstly, I condemn the recent escalation in Lebanon. Following months of escalating tensions, last week’s events represented a new chapter, which was extensively discussed last Friday. New attacks of this week are fuelling further chaos and instilling more fear. I take this opportunity to call on both sides as well as all States and all actors in the region to exercise restraint in their actions and in their words. Every single attack presents an opportunity for a miscalculation and drives us further away from peace.

Those around this table with influence on different actors: this is your time to use it. Israel must stop its airstrikes and abandon plans for a ground invasion. Hezbollah must stop its attacks.

It is the moment for the Council to be united in our call for de-escalation and cessation of hostilities.

Secondly, protection of civilians must be a priority. We are deeply concerned by the images of confusion and fear reigning the South of Lebanon. This has come on top of months of hostilities with a heavy impact on civilian infrastructure and civilians, many of whom have been displaced on both sides of the border. We repeat: further violence will not place them back.

We call on all parties to respect international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law. No one could have said it better than the ICRC President during this morning’s open debate: international humanitarian law offers a pathway to peace. It should be declared a political priority.

We also call for an immediate and full implementation of the resolution 1701. We would like to express our full support to the work of UNIFIL. Its presence and its mandate are a vital stabilizing factor. Safety and security of UNIFIL must be ensured at all times.

Thirdly, diplomacy is the only path forward. It is therefore time to return to the negotiations tables – both the one related to this crisis as well as the one on the ceasefire in Gaza. I fully concur with the Secretary-General: we cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza. We cannot afford this spiral of violence in the Middle East to continue. It must stop now. I appeal for genuine commitment to conclusion of negotiations and for an active role of this Council supporting those endeavours.

Excellencies,

In classic literature, hell has been depicted as nine concentric circles of torment. They become gradually more progressive and complex. Colleagues, I am afraid we are stepping on the same path discussing the increasingly thorny situation in the Middle East. Before the region reaches a point of no return, I call on all of us to show it the path back to diplomacy.

Thank you.

I resume my function as President of the Council.

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