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The Bled Strategic Forum opens with a call for strong multilateral cooperation

2023-08-28 15:08:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon spoke for global solidarity and strong multilateralism while addressing the Bled Strategic Forum on August 28, arguing that cooperation and solidarity are crucial for the future.

"No global challenge can be properly addressed without global action, and no global action can be prepared and carried out without solidarity and compromise," she said in her opening remarks.

According to her, joint action is needed to tackle issues such as the war in Ukraine and other armed conflicts around the world, global food and energy supply disruptions, poverty and the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Rather than let us wallow in defeatism about problems looming on the horizon, we must act now. If we don't start solving the problems urgently, our generation and the generations to come will collectively pay a heavy price," she said.

She said that as foreign minister and as a social democrat she was fully committed to "enlightened solidarity", based on the understanding that solidarity is an investment for common benefit.

"I envision a just global system where poverty disappears, income balance and gender balance are the norm, the world successfully fights climate change and implements the transition to green energy sources, and we promote human rights."

Equally important are the rule of law, media freedom and respect for international commitments and principles, such as respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

According to Fajon, the biggest potential obstacle to global solidarity and security is populism, a political method that involves the distortion and falsification of facts and that deliberately creates tensions within societies and internationally.

"The least we can do to ensure stability and solidarity is to create a strong international coalition that supports international organizations and institutions. It is equally important to regulate the fight against disinformation and fake news... We must also get AI right," she said.

Without addressing these phenomena, actions based on solidarity and the whole concept of solidarity are seriously hindered.

"At its core, international solidarity is as strong as multilateralism - and vice versa. In fact, strengthening international solidarity and security depends as much, if not more, on an effective multilateral system."

For Slovenia, there are two main priorities in this context, stopping the war in Ukraine and taking advantage of the moment and expanding the EU in the Western Balkans.

Fajon also called for "well-managed reform of international institutions". She cited Africa's lack of a permanent seat on the UN Security Council as an issue, noting that Africa's absence "seems illogical, and that needs to be changed."

It is also necessary to rebalance the international financial system to enable developing countries to finance development reforms at sustainable costs.

Despite the obvious shortcomings of the existing multilateral system and existing tensions in the international community, Fajon remains optimistic, saying that there is simply no alternative to global multilateral cooperation./ CNA