Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob sees the upcoming UN Summit of the Future as an extraordinary opportunity to renew and improve the trust between nations, bolster commitments towards peace and stability, and renew and reinvigorate multilateralism, he writes in an opinion piece for Bled Strategic Times ahead of the Bled Strategic Forum.

Unprecedented crises, geopolitical tensions, break of trust among nations, loss of responsibility towards collective action for securing peace and stability are threatening the existing rules-based multilateral system.

This is not a threat to multilateralism but rather a crisis of political will to comply with and respect the international system the international community has built after World War II. The current multilateral system is being undermined. Undermined by the disrespect for the UN Charter, the international law and the decisions taken by the UN Security Council.

Restoring the political will and trust, as well as recommitment to basic principles of the UN Charter must be at the forefront of the efforts of the UN Member States. As said by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the UN Charter remains "the moral compass to promote peace, advance human dignity, prosperity and uphold human rights and the rule of law".

The world is undoubtedly changing, as it has throughout history. The UN system was built to last and to withstand pressures of always developing times. However, it needs to remain nimble. To make the global governance work, we need a transparent, responsive and accountable multilateral system, built on trust, respect and international law.

We need a living multilateral system ready to adapt to new trends, challenges and realities of changing geopolitical situation (geographical representation, gender balance, small states - the majority of the international community, developing countries - two thirds of the UN membership etc).

Slovenia, as a Non-Permanent Member of the Security Council and as a member of the UN, will focus on reminding what is the real mission of the UN, on overcoming the misuse of veto in the Security Council and as we are living in a time of crises, on finding solutions.

The main principles of international coexistence, of international order - from respect for international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law, to the principles, enshrined in the UN Charter, should remain intact, no matter how big the divides or how tense the competition. Bending the rules in order to adapt them to one's unilateral interests, therefore cannot be accepted.

We are at the critical milestone. Summit of the Future is an extraordinary opportunity to renew and improve the trust between nations, bolster our existing commitments towards peace and stability, including the commitment to the UN Charter, and to renew and reinvigorate multilateralism. It is also a unique chance to chart a new path ahead - towards a future where we, our children, and the future generations can thrive and be safe.

The task ahead is to make sure we internalize the commitments that will be set out by adopting the Pact for the Future. The Pact should address pressing international issues, accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and prompt reforms of the UN system. It should include a forward-looking vision, with concrete measures and timelines, rather than focusing on what has already been agreed. It is time to deliver concrete results. We need tangible progress and we need to ensure that the actions are taken forward and implemented.

Reviving multilateralism must be seen as an inclusive process, working with private sector, civil society, NGOs, youth, regional and sub-regional organizations and arrangements. It should embrace and reflect on new technologies and innovations, address equal opportunities and unleash the potential of youth, women and girls.

Inclusive cooperation is also very important for small states, Slovenia being one of them. We can serve as bridge-builders, as glue that can reunite. We can be honest brokers and this is what Slovenia is bringing to the table.

Today, the Security Council is highly polarized, its internal dynamics fully reflects the wider geopolitical setting (after Russian aggression on Ukraine, situation in the Middle East). The urgent work on crucial international issues is thus challenging, since the ability to reach consensus is diminishing, unfortunately at the expense of the suffering and loss of lives of innocent people. The current elected (non-permanent) members of the UN Security Council, including Slovenia, share the ambition to move things forward.

We believe that the elected members of the Security Council bring fresh energy and a new perspective in the work of the body. Because of our diverse origin, priorities and experience, elected members bring insights from various regions that can contribute to international efforts.

As we come together for the Bled Strategic Forum, I wish each of us a constructive and inspiring dialogue on how to shape a better world for our future generations. Let this podium in Bled be a catalyst for innovative solutions and meaningful cooperation. Only together, we have the power to create long lasting positive change.