Slovenia calls for recognition of Palestine by other nations, raises ceasefire campaign
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - MAY 27: Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon talks to media during an EU Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting in the Europa, the EU Council headquarter on May 27, 2024 in Brussels, Belgium. The Foreign Affairs Council exchanged views on the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, and was informed about Georgia under current affairs. (Photo by Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)
Slovenia’s Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon called for an end to Israel’s conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah, advocating for Middle East peace. Fajon urged nations to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state and pressed Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, respect international law, and the UN Charter.
“I urge other countries to follow our example and recognize the Palestinian state as a sovereign state, an independent state, and give hope to the Palestinian population,” Fajon said.
Fajon expressed concern about regional hostilities spreading, emphasizing the need for restraint and a political solution.
She noted that Slovenia has consistently called for peace since the conflict began, saying: “It’s our collective responsibility to respect the resolutions of the Security Council and to do everything in our power to have a political solution because there is no military solution that can bring peace to the region.”
Her appeal to the international community came after an informal high-level meeting, chaired by Slovenia in its capacity as president of the UN Security Council for the month, involving council members, the secretary-general, and representatives from the Arab League.
Out of the 193 UN member states, 146 now officially recognize Palestinian statehood. Slovenia joined this group in June, following a parliamentary vote where 52 members voted in favour, with none opposed. Similarly, Norway, Spain, and Ireland recognized Palestinian statehood in May.
On his part, the Arab League’s secretary-general, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, deemed the related UN meeting “constructive,” with discussions focusing on ceasefire proposals and the Saudi-proposed Arab Peace Initiative.
He pointed out that the meeting provided “an opportunity to show the members of the Security Council and the rest of the UN that the Arab world and Arab countries are still insisting on offering Israel the Arab Peace Initiative that (includes) recognition (of Israel in exchange for) withdrawal” from occupied Arab territories.
