Statement by Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations Samuel Žbogar at UNSC meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question

Thank you Madam President.

I also thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his briefing.

Madam President,

Last Friday we celebrated 80 years since the adoption of the UN Charter. At the closing ceremony in San Francisco, wise words were shared by President Truman and I quote: “We all have to recognize-no matter how great our strength–that we must deny ourselves the license to do always as we please. No one nation, no regional group, can or should expect, any special privilege which harms any other nation. If any nation would keep security for itself, it must be ready and willing to share security with all.” End of quote.

Colleagues,

With the world’s attention shifting to another major crisis in the Middle East, horrors for Palestinians continued spiraling out of control.

They continue to be killed and injured, including while seeking aid in Gaza.

I repeat – Civilians are being killed while simply trying to receive aid amid life-threatening famine. They are forced to flee time and again although no place in Gaza, as we know, is safe for civilians. Yesterday, we witnessed another wave of deadly attacks on shelters and displacement camps, while new evacuation orders were issued.

All humanitarian aid and commercial supplies were entirely blocked from entering Gaza.

From inflammatory rhetoric of officials to visits to Holy Sites in Jerusalem and entering UNRWA premises, the list of destabilizing actions is growing each day. Israeli planning authorities advanced thousands of new illegal housing units and Security Cabinet approved recognition of 22 new illegal settlements. Additional steps to weaken the Palestinian Authority, in particular through its precarious financial situation, are deeply disturbing. Operations, demonstrations, clashes, air strikes, closures, forced displacement and settler violence continued in the West Bank. Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned structures as well as fragmentation of Palestinian communities and movement restrictions carried on.

We condemn the loss of civilian life stemming from violence as well as actions in sharp contradiction to the ICJ Advisory Opinion of July 2024, which clearly outlined the obligation to end the illegal occupation.

We regret that the conference on two-state solution was postponed. We firmly support the co-chairs and reassure our continued commitment to the two-state solution. We hope the new date will be identified soon.

In light of this, Slovenia is taking concrete steps, both on bilateral level as well as in cooperation with other countries.

Madam President,

Let me clearly state that we deny the license to do as one pleases.

We deny that might is right. We believe in peace anchored in the Charter, international law and diplomacy.

International law, including international humanitarian law, must be respected. Aid restriction must be lifted, humanitarian workers must be allowed safe access to all in need.

Hostages must be released and genuine, truly genuine efforts for peace must take place.

We concur with Secretary-General that untold horrors in Gaza must not be forgotten. Slovenia restates its call for immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza.

Slovenia is of the view that 80 years on, our Charter continues to be the cornerstone of our international community. To go back to where I started: there are no special privileges to harm nations or civilians, and this should be particularly clear to any Member of this organization.

I thank you.

Recent Statements