Slovenia is among the vast
majority in the international community that desire and
strive for a lasting peace. However, the precondition
for that is the peaceful resolution of all disputes. The
United Nations was founded mainly to serve precisely
that purpose, and that goal has often been achieved.
Within the contemporary international community,
the United Nations remains a very important tool for
maintaining and strengthening world peace.
However, contrary to the Charter of the United
Nations, force is still being used in today’s world.
There is even a strong feeling that, owing to new
circumstances, the existing architecture of the United
Nations — and above all the Security Council — is
failing in that fundamental role. Long ago, a debate
began on the reforms that were needed, but thus far, it
seems to have resulted in no decisive changes.
Hence, a sense of uncertainty about future
stability and peace is gaining ground among the
peace-oriented States of international community.
If the United Nations is not reformed so that it can
successfully cope with international conflicts, it risks
being sidelined. Increasingly, deadlocks in the Security
Council — which have sometimes come about for good
reasons, but sometimes not — are taken as an excuse
for resolving conflicts by force and without a United
Nations mandate. If that trend continues, it may lead
to the breakdown in the contemporary political and
security architecture. It is our common task to remedy
such problems rapidly, thoroughly and by consensus,
especially with regard to the functioning of the United
Nations and the Security Council; otherwise, it may be
too late.
I suppose we all agree that a reformed and effective
Security Council is needed, with its permanent
members exercising their powers responsibly and in
accordance with international law and the Charter of
the United Nations. We have to use this opportunity
to rethink the international security architecture,
improve our capacity to prevent and resolve conflicts
and reclaim our shared values and principles, which
are enshrined in the Charter. With numerous ongoing
conflicts around the world, we will have to do so before
international peace is undermined.
I cannot deny that, at times, in the absence of
other means, specific circumstances may compel the
international community to maintain peace by the use
of force. Sometimes it is so. Nevertheless, a United
Nations mandate is essential to ensure credibility,
at least in principle. If, however, intervening without
a United Nations mandate becomes the principle, the
world will certainly arrive at a point where an arbitrary
action may trigger a conflict of broad dimensions.
I think there are no moral grounds for such risky
behaviour.
A comprehensive United Nations approach is
also needed to address the global threat emerging in
the broader Middle East and North Africa: the threat
of terrorism, extremism and a militant radicalism that
is distinctively different in its strategic approach and
methods of operation. We all have to condemn that
threat in the strongest terms and fight against it in a
concerted manner, bearing in mind the framework of
the mandate given by the Security Council. Because
of the importance I accord to the Security Council, I
would like to reiterate my support for Security Council
resolution 2174 (2014) adopted two days ago, which was
endorsed by more than 100 States.
Although the debate on the reform of the Security
Council has been going on for decades now, it has
recently become especially relevant. My country,
Slovenia, is committed to contributing to that debate to
the greatest extent possible.
Let me finish by saying that, while the vision of a
world of peace may remain unfulfilled, the ideals that
led to the establishment of the United Nations almost
70 years ago and the need to preserve our humanity
remain. Let us pool our resources and ideas. Let us exert
leadership, make the necessary reforms and recommit
to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
Let us re-establish dialogue and rebuild the trust we
need so much. That is the only way forward to maintain
global order on the basis of international law and leave
a lasting legacy to the people and nations of this world.