Pahor at the UN General Assembly: Emergency situations cannot be used to justify human rights abuses

The Slovenian President calls for the strengthening of multilateralism

“No country can ever benefit from pursuing just its own interests,” said Pahor and called on member states to emphasize multilateralism as the only way of guaranteeing peace and stability for future generations. Photo: Reuters

In his speech at the 73rd meeting of the General Assembly in New York, President Borut Pahor expressed Slovenia’s firm support for multilateral processes, the role of law, and human rights – in other words, the 70-year-old system created to prevent the horrors of another global conflict.

“No country can ever benefit from pursuing just its own interests,” said Pahor and called on member states to emphasize multilateralism as the only way of guaranteeing peace and stability for future generations. The UN has Slovenia’s full support in this process. Pahor spoke in favor of the reforms that are being carried out under the leadership of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, but he added that the success of the reforms will depend on the political will of the member states. He said that only a system based on rules can ensure the equality of people and nations, who must respect international law if they want a more stable, peaceful, and just future. He emphasized the importance of international law and the verdicts of international courts for various processes, including reconciliation in the Western Balkans, a region that borders Slovenia.

Slovenia is a strong supporter of the International Criminal Court
As he continued, Pahor touched on several key global issues. He stressed that there can be no peace and progress without human rights, and that emergency situations or political reasons cannot justify their violation. Slovenia currently chairs the UN Human Rights Council, and it considers its contribution to the respect of human rights as an important element. Pahor hopes that the U.S., a traditional advocate of human rights, will remain committed to the council. Slovenia will continue to build the council’s legitimacy, credibility, and effectiveness.

Slovenia also remains committed to the International Criminal Court , and Pahor has called on all nations that haven’t yet done so to ratify the Rome Statute.

Pahor proud of meeting the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
“Slovenia advocates the resolution of key problems of proliferation and again expresses its support for the Iranian nuclear agreement, as long as Iran keeps fulfilling its commitments. We also support the developments on the Korean Peninsula and we hope for a complete, verified, and irreversible denuclearization of the peninsula,” stated Pahor. The President also thanked all member states that support the International Trust Fund for Demining that was crated 20 years ago by the Slovenian government.