Slovenia is co-sponsoring an initiative to sign an international treaty on cooperation in criminal law that would facilitate prosecution of war crimes in Ukraine. Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon will present the initiative to her EU counterparts in Brussels on 20 February, as 77 countries have already joined in.

According to Fajon, Ljubljana will host a diplomatic conference in late May on what she says will be the first major international treaty on cooperation in criminal law.

The treaty would set up a mechanism for cooperation among law enforcement bodies of EU member states and third countries. This is to allow cooperation in prosecuting and investigating crimes against humanity, war crimes, other international crimes, and genocide.

"This international convention, which will facilitate cooperation with third countries, will help investigate and prosecute war crimes in Ukraine," the minister told the STA as she arrived for the EU's General Affairs Council session on 20 February.

Slovenia has drawn up the treaty in cooperation with Belgium, the Netherlands and three non-EU countries. So far 77 countries have joined the initiative but Fajon says they are working on attracting other countries as well.

More about the treaty and when it is to be signed should be known after the Ljubljana conference, which will also feature a number of experts.

"This shows that Slovenia leads a really clear policy of investigating accountability, including when it comes to war crimes in Ukraine," Fajon said.

EU foreign ministers will discuss today further support for Ukraine almost a year into the Russian invasion.

"This is not a war of two countries. The Russian Federation started the war in Ukraine, the EU and Slovenia are not at war and Slovenia will not be at war. But the fact is that the war is happening in Ukraine's territory, that Ukraine logically wants to defend itself, as Slovenia would, and is defending itself and is asking for additional help here," Fajon said, pledging that Slovenia would continue to help Ukraine as long as necessary.