Minister Fajon at informal NATO meeting: Slovenia is aware of its share of responsibility for collective security

SLOVENIA, May 15 - "There is a sense of relief, unity and confidence among the Allies in the run-up to the Hague Summit following the announcement that existing commitments will be honoured. Slovenia, too, has announced a concrete contribution in this regard. Last week, the Slovenian government adopted a decision to meet the target of 2% GDP for defence expenditure by the end of this year," said the Slovenian Foreign Minister. She added: »Our approach to talks ahead of the Hague Summit on new objectives must remain comprehensive and realistic in terms of the level of contribution and the timeline. The 3% GDP objective by 2030 is a realistic goal for Slovenia. That much is clear. Just as clear is Slovenia's message: no more wars. Slovenia has always advocated for peace, dialogue and seeking a political solution underpinned by respect for international law and the UN Charter."

Minister Fajon welcomed the efforts of the United States, Türkiye and European countries to end the brutal war in Ukraine: "Slovenia calls on Russia to immediately and unconditionally agree to a ceasefire. We welcome all efforts for peace and the end of hostilities. If no progress is made in the talks in Türkiye, the American and European pressure on Russian President Putin must increase." The Slovenian Foreign Minister called for ensuring accountability for the Russian aggression and the related war crimes and crimes against humanity. In her view, it would be important for President Zelenskyy to participate in the NATO Summit in The Hague. "Slovenia is strongly committed to ending the war in Ukraine. The Istanbul talks are a step in the right direction and I hope for a breakthrough. Slovenia also offered to host any follow-up meeting if new ministerial meetings are required," explained Minister Fajon.

In her intervention, Minister Fajon also advocated continued attention on and strong cooperation with the Western Balkans: "The growing secessionist activities in the Republika Srpska cause great concern. Such activities undermine the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its EU and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. We need clear and unified messages calling on all political actors to respect the Dayton Peace Agreement and maintain the constitutional order in the country."

In conclusion, Minister Fajon underscored that NATO is not only a military, but first and foremost a political organisation taking a 360-degree approach to international security issues. In the context of all partnerships, from the Indo-Pacific region to the Southern Neighbourhood, Minister Fajon also touched on the war in Gaza: "Gaza is witnessing atrocities, crimes, people are being denied water, food and humanitarian aid, they are facing extreme starvation. Therefore, we must really do more, all of us, to end wars around the world and protect innocent civilians."