Statement by H. E. Mr. Marko Štucin, Deputy Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, at the briefing on the situation in the Middle East titled “ending the war and securing durable peace”

Thank you Minister for organizing this meeting and thank you Mr. Wennesland for your briefing.

Looking back in history, this past year will stand out as a year of monumental shifts for the world as a whole, and in particularly for the Middle East.

For people in the region, this was a year of pain and destruction never seen before. Nothing in recent history could be compared to the brutality that we see in Gaza today. To the number of civilians killed. To the number of women and children killed. Nothing in recent history could be compared to the number of displaced people. As the latest Human Rights Watch report states – 90 percent of the population of Gaza – 1.9 million Palestinians were displaced over the last 13 months.

There should be no doubt – humanity has failed again. The only way to bring back hope is an immediate ceasefire. This Council must voice united demand for a ceasefire and humanitarian access without delay.

Mister President, colleagues,

For political leaders, this was a year of ever shifting confrontations and shockwaves. A front after front opened. All of them inherently connected to Gaza yet increasingly spinning off in their own cycles of violence. This Council should start taking its role under the Charter seriously and provide immediate steps for peace, security and stability in the region, with UN playing a central role.

Colleagues,

For this organization, this was a year of relentless limitations and attacks. I want to underline Slovenia’s unwavering support to the work of the Secretary-General and the entire UN System, including UNRWA and UNIFIL. There should always be a united message of Council members in defense of the UN System, as it serves humanity on the ground.

For the international community as a whole, this was a year of grave violations of international law. If we want to secure a future for children in Gaza, Middle East and all around the World, we need to protect and defend international law. We need to protect the independence and impartiality of the International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court and other courts and tribunals in order to ensure accountability for grave violations of international law.

Mister President,

In parallel to the overwhelming suffering in Gaza we are seeing a devastating humanitarian impact in Lebanon, and crippling measures and settler violence igniting the West Bank. We fully reject statements calling for extension of so-called sovereignty into the West Bank. We further underscore legal clarity provided by the ICJ Advisory Opinion on the illegality of the Israeli occupation, which must end.  

There must also be an end to practices aimed against the two-state solution, including those limiting and hindering the Palestinian Authority. Slovenia recognized the State of Palestine and we see this recognition as a necessary element of the two-state solution. As a member of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, we are committed to practical measures and a time-bound peace process. In this regard, we support holding of an international peace conference as soon as possible.

Colleagues,

one thing is clear: each one of us has a responsibility, as a Member of this Council and a Member of this Organization. The crossing of boundaries that we have been observing in the past year should be matched with bold steps for peace, through bilateral and multilateral diplomacy leading to the two-state solution.

I thank you.

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