While highlighting the importance of the UN as an organisation that is "efficient and global in its coverage and activities", Janša also stressed the need for a stronger role of regional organisations that should take greater responsibility for their regions.

"The first responsibility is on us, the Europeans, and only then on the United Nations," he said in a comment on the Srebrenica massacre, which saw over 8,000 civilians killed while under the protection of UN forces.

"This happened in the European back yard, but EU members at that time lacked unity to take action. Had there been more unity and understanding of the situation, and fewer individual interests, the genocide would not have happened."

But since Srebrenica, the situation improved and the EU acted pre-emptively, Janša said, highlighting the "largely successful" interventions in Macedonia and Kosovo.

Janša spoke to the press after talks with the UN secretary general, which focused on the situation in Syria, reforms of the United Nations system and the situation in the Balkans.

The pair agreed that the dependence of several countries in the region on support of the international community needs to be reduced and the region's Euro-Atlantic integration processes sped up, according to Janša.

The UN secretary general thanked Slovenia for its efforts within the UN, pointing in particular to its membership stints in the UN Human Rights Council and the Security Council.

Ban also praised Slovenia's participation in UN peacekeeping operations, in particular in Syria. A total of 18 Slovenian soldiers are currently involved in UN operations.

Earlier today, Ban also met President Danilo Türk and addressed the parliament, calling for promotion of lasting stability in the Balkans.

Continuing his tour of the region, Ban will visit the former Yugoslav countries of Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo and Macedonia.

The last stop on his tour will be Bosnia-Herzegovina, where he will also visit Srebrenica in what will be the first ever visit to the city by a UN secretary general.