The Slovenia Times

Fajon takes stock of her record in office

Politics

Ljubljana - Tanja Fajon looked back on her first one hundred days as Slovenia's foreign minister on Friday by saying her team were going "one hundred an hour" during that time. She met 65 officials herself and was "happy Slovenia has once again become a defender of democracy, the rule of law and media freedom".

Fajon said she stuck to the plan she had set out on becoming the country's first woman foreign minister.

She first held talks with her counterparts from neighbouring countries, visited Berlin, attended the UN General Assembly session in New York and met her US counterpart, Antony Blinken.

She mentioned her visit to Kyiv, announcing the Foreign Ministry's Strategic Council would shortly resume discussion on Ukraine. She underscored pacifist policy as Slovenia's guiding principle, hoping for the two sides come to the negotiating table as soon as possible and agree peace.

Turning to the Western Balkans, she noted the efforts to grant Bosnia and Herzegovina EU candidate status. A special envoy she appointed for the region, Anže Frangež, is already engaged in talks with countries in the region.

The minister said she did not take all the statements made recently by Serbian officials against Slovenia seriously and were mostly meant in the context of Serbia's domestic affairs, but she thought it key that Slovenia responded to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić's controversial statement and protected its interests.

Addressing a joint press conference with Slovenian President Borut Pahor, Vučić, asked whether Serbia would impose sanctions on Russia, said Russia never violated Serbia's territorial integrity, whereas Slovenia had. In response, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry summoned the Serbian ambassador for talks.

Fajon described cooperation between Slovenia and Serbia as good.

The minister also appointed Ambassador Franc But special envoy to promote Slovenia's candidacy for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council in 2024 and 2025.

"We've substantially stepped up our activities, enhanced our team in terms of staff and funds to be successful in lobbying," she said about the efforts to drum up support for Slovenia's bid, announcing an intensification of activities, particularly in Africa. She believes Slovenia as a small country can be a bridge between the big powers.

She also mentioned trade diplomacy and the Foreign Ministry's involvement in the efforts to resolve the energy and food crises.

Asked about the relationship with Austria, after Prime Minister Robert Golob criticised the country over the efforts to conclude a solidarity agreement on gas supplies, such as Slovenia has with Italy and will soon conclude with Croatia, Fajon said "things are not so dramatic" and talks with Austria were ongoing.

On Croatia, Fajon said she would like friendly relations to prevail and for issues affecting people to be resolved as successfully as possible. She noted the removal of the border fence and renovation of bridges. "We want to take small steps to resolve the more difficult issues," she said.

She said Croatia's joining the Schengen area was in Slovenia's interest, and had nothing to do with the border arbitration award, which Slovenia insists on enforcing.

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