YouSaid · the spoken record

Janez Drnovšek

lines on the record: 117
first: 1993-09-24
most recent: 2004-09-24
sittings or episodes: 8
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“However, this process has not yet become irreversible. The international community still has an important role in leading the post-conflict management of the situation. There is a growing need to ensure economic reconstruction and provide adequate economic aid. Slovenia is actively participating in those efforts. Many important issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina remain to be solved. The number of returning refugees, especially among minorities, has been substantially lower than expected. In this regard, we commend the role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, its Multinational Specialized Unit and the international police transition force for their role. Democratization and reconciliation are indispensable elements in consolidating peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reconciliation, however, does not mean impunity.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“We must act with unity and determination to ensure that violations of humanitarian law and human rights do not remain unpunished. There are actors in the international community who still believe that the threat or use of force is a legitimate means of change. They consider political solutions and negotiations only after and if military options fail. We can see this in Africa, where new crises are succeeding the old ones. We can see it in the continued arms race, even in the nuclear field. We can also see it in Europe, with Kosovo offering yet another humanitarian tragedy. As if all of this were not enough, we also face the lowest, the most unjustified violence of all — international terrorism, which has harmed hundreds of innocent victims. 6 In Bosnia and Herzegovina the peace process is slowly but definitely extending its roots.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“The implementation of our key foreign-policy objectives, which we pursue in our work and endeavours in the Security Council, is, however, challenged by an increasing number of threats to peace and stability. Judgement, compassion and determination must guide us in our struggle to offer new hope for suffering people. From the Balkans to Central Africa and Central Asia, a particular type of warfare seems to be prevailing in all conflicts. The civilian population is the main — and, very often, also the only — target. Violations of human rights, international humanitarian law and the most horrible atrocities are becoming the usual consequences of these conflicts. These violations and their political root causes must be addressed by the international community from the very start.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Only an efficient universal organization can help us cope with the pressing challenges of globalization, economic and social development, environmental changes and the urgent need to protect and respect human rights. We need the United Nations to protect our highest and most basic goal: the maintenance of international peace and security. Therefore, we expect that the remaining proposals of the Secretary-General will be approved by the Members during this session of the General Assembly. This will allow us to move forward in the reform and transformation of our United Nations. Slovenia attaches special importance to the promotion of the noble principles and values upon which the United Nations is built. This is why we were especially proud to be elected a non-permanent member of the Security Council.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“While it is true that the United Nations is a framework within which the Member States can pursue their own national interests, the United Nations is above all an instrument for making the common goals and aspirations of humankind a realistic programme for a better future. The world and its goals and challenges are changing, and the United Nations has to change as well. It was a wise decision for the Member States to support the Secretary- General?s programme for reform and help him undertake the necessary measures. We are glad to see that some of the steps of this excellent programme have already made the United Nations more responsive and more effective.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“Let me take this opportunity to congratulate the President and his country, Uruguay, on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its fifty-third session. I am convinced that his experience and skills will help the General Assembly fulfil its important tasks. I would also like to thank Mr. Hennadiy Udovenko of Ukraine for his work as President and to commend him on his decisive guidance during the deliberations of the fifty- second session of the General Assembly. The world order is being rearranged. Our time is marked by continuous change. It is of crucial importance that this process of change take place in a peaceful way and under the rules which the international community has agreed upon. The United Nations has an indispensable role in that regard and must be able to respond to the world?s needs.”
1998-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 53 (1998)
“After a successful transformation, Slovenia is now ready to take its share of responsibility not only for regional arrangements, but also for international peace and stability. That is why Slovenia seeks to become a Security Council member for the 1998-1999 term: to participate actively in the Council’s central role in developing an effective system of global security at a time when the Security Council faces significant challenges to international peace and security. We firmly believe that Slovenia is able to meet all expectations and to work with other member States so as to make a full contribution to fulfilling the demanding tasks of the Security Council.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Within the framework of post-conflict management of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there is a growing need to ensure economic reconstruction and provide adequate economic aid. Slovenia is actively participating in the international efforts for the economic 12 reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina and still hosts many Bosnian refugees. Slovenia is a young country that obtained United Nations membership in May 1992. Over the past five years of independence, Slovenia achieved positive results in the process of political and economic transformation. Growing cooperation with its neighbours and in the region enabled Slovenia to reach a high degree of economic and political stability. We strongly believe that such a policy is to be observed as a contribution to the sustainable stability of the region.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Less than a year ago, Slovenia joined all the members of the international community in expressing appreciation to the United States of America and all others involved in the preparation of the Dayton Agreement. After many years of tragically futile exercises, the moment has come for a decisive step towards real peace in Bosnia and in the Balkans. The military action of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization gave credibility to the written word and created conditions for a comprehensive effort to rebuild Bosnia and Herzegovina economically, politically and socially. In Slovenia, we welcomed the holding of the presidential and parliamentarian elections which took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina 10 days ago as a positive step forward and as a substantial contribution to peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“In this context, we note with regret that the project of expansion of the membership of the Conference on Disarmament remains incomplete. We continue to believe that all States willing and able to contribute to international disarmament efforts should be enabled to participate in the Conference on Disarmament as full members. Slovenia wishes to be and is capable of being among the members of the Conference. Slovenia also supports activities of the international community needed to limit and eventually eliminate the use of inhumane and excessively injurious weapons — including anti-personnel landmines — and is ready to take an active part in these efforts. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the process of return to normality has started.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“It can be said that, in recent years, the United Nations has solidified its leading and coordinating role in this area. The agreement on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons achieved last year and the conclusion of the Chemical Weapons Convention are witness to that. Slovenia welcomes the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which we signed yesterday. Slovenia took an active approach from the very beginning to the CTBT negotiations. We deeply believe that only strict implementation of the Treaty can contribute to a safer world in the future. The interaction between the Conference on Disarmament and the relevant United Nations bodies has intensified. We should strive to improve further the disarmament machinery.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“We shall continue to support the efforts for coordination and cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations through such methods as increased consultation, diplomatic support, mutual operational support and joint operations, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. In Europe, the role of such regional organizations as the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is constantly growing. We welcome and support the growing complementarity and cooperation between these organizations and the United Nations. Disarmament continues to be among the most important areas in which the role of the United Nations is fundamental.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Last but not least, there is, in several parts of the United Nations, a need for structural change. The necessary expansion and reform of the Security Council — which includes reasonable enlargement — is a case in point. It is obvious that the efforts at reform should go hand in hand with the implementation of the basic tasks of the United Nations. The preservation of international peace and security is the principal objective of the United Nations. One of the areas of implementation of this objective that is constantly gaining importance is cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations in the common efforts for world peace. We see possibilities in different parts of the world for the creation of durable security arrangements based on regional organizations and their cooperation with the United Nations.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“The present session of the General Assembly and its general debate should provide fresh incentives and energize the process of reform, which should proceed in a coherent and balanced manner. The process of downsizing the Secretariat, while being welcome and necessary, should become part of a wider change characterized by a clear definition of the priorities of the United Nations and by an adequate allocation of its human and material resources. Greater discipline must be achieved in the financing of the United Nations. This should be accompanied by a new, more balanced scale of assessments. Furthermore, innovative forms of financing should be devised, in particular in such domains as the protection of environment and sustainable development.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Never before has the time been so precious and the need for effective global action so clear. The United Nations must be able to adjust so as to become more effective and more successful in addressing the challenges at hand. The essence of the principal task before the United Nations today can be captured in two words: adjustment and modernization. The compelling need to adjust and modernize the Organization should be guiding its activities, in particular those aiming at its reform. However, the United Nations experience of the reform efforts of the past year has not been entirely satisfactory. The progress of various working groups of 11 the General Assembly has been slow, a fact to be noted with concern.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Moreover, our time is also one of profound and promising change. Never before has the world been better equipped to seize the opportunities of economic and technological development for the benefit of all. The democratic transformation which has taken place in large parts of the world has substantially improved the quality of life and added important opportunities for a large part of the world’s population. However, very serious problems persist. Poverty and social disintegration, environmental degradation and new forms of threat to international peace and security are serious dangers to our common future. The fact that our world is no longer threatened by cold war rivalries offers little consolation if we think of the dangers which cast their shadows on our path towards the future. The unique opportunities of our time can be forfeited.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Please allow me to congratulate the President and his country, Malaysia, on his election to the presidency of the fifty-first session of the General Assembly. We hold his many contributions to the work of the United Nations in very high regard and we are convinced that his wisdom will guide this session of the General Assembly to a successful completion. I also take advantage of this occasion to thank Professor Diogo Freitas do Amaral of Portugal for his wise and dignified leadership of the General Assembly at its jubilee fiftieth session. The first half-century of the United Nations has elapsed and the General Assembly is meeting at a time of great opportunities. Seldom has the United Nations enjoyed such a high level of freedom from friction in the relations among the major Powers of the world.”
1996-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 51 (1996)
“Even in our own neighbourhood we face some remnants of the past. This is just one further reason for our insistence on respect by everybody, and not just by the smaller and the weaker countries, for principle in international relations, democracy and universal values. This is the only guarantee of international peace and stability. Clearly, if we start to correct the past and the present on the basis of some historical tendencies of domination, there will be no way of securing the future stability of the world. The solution lies only in overcoming such practices and attitudes and in establishing international cooperation, peace and stability on the basis of respect for each other and for universal human rights.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Now we have a very prosperous State with good democratic performance and very good economic development. Slovenia is considered one of the best countries, if not the best country, in transition to the market and democratic system. We are also prepared to make our contribution to building the international institutions and the coordination that will lead to greater stability in the world. We see our future as being in international institutions like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union. We look upon such bodies not only as economic or defence institutions but also as institutions that should ensure greater stability in the world, greater democracy and the development of universal principles of individual and collective human rights. But we can see that the way is not easy.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Of course, there are many problems to be solved in the future. The United Nations will have to develop efficient instruments of preventive diplomacy and means of handling crises if they occur anyway and of defining the criteria as to when and how to intervene. As is very evident from the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is not always easy to achieve a unanimous definition of “the bad guys” in the world order or to agree upon action against them. But there are human rights criteria, and there are universal values that were developed in the world over the centuries, and especially during recent decades. These have to be respected and implemented. Luckily, Slovenia was out of the Yugoslav crisis at a very early stage and established its independence four years ago.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“If it fails in this case the situation will be just the opposite. The road will be open to anarchy, chaos and regional wars, to the rule of the stronger, to the old practices of spheres of interest, and the world will not find a way out of the post-cold-war situation. Instability will increase, and the chances of regional and global wars will be greater. So we are at a very important moment in history and in the functioning of the United Nations. If the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations is celebrated with success in finally solving the crisis in the former Yugoslavia, this will be the best reward for everybody who, over the past 50 years, has sacrificed his time, his energy or even his life for the establishment of a world of freedom, stability and international cooperation.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Diplomatic activity combined with the necessary military action has for the first time provided a realistic chance to stop the war and the killing in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to establish a durable peace and the prospect of stability in the region. If these activities succeed, they will be an extremely important model for the future, for further development of international coordination in the framework of the United Nations. If the international community is able to solve such an extremely difficult case as that of Bosnia and Herzegovina we shall all be encouraged to direct new energy and efforts towards establishing global instruments and activities to prevent and to solve future crises. The international community will strengthen its institutions in support of universal values and rights.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“The former Yugoslavia was at the 2 crossroads of many interests and is where so many horrors and killings took place during the Second World War. And there are some signs that the international community has not yet completely overcome such historical divisions and influences. On the other hand, we cannot say that this historical approach prevailed in tackling the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There was also strong international action in the name of the universal order and universal values, in the name of the protection of human rights, in the name of the protection of the rights of all nations. It is very encouraging that we recently witnessed really serious activity, a very serious peace plan.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Will there be efficient international coordination, mainly within the United Nations, to take care of such problems and crises? Or shall we go back to the old division of the world and of Europe: the division, in interest spheres, among classic Powers — the traditional interest spheres of the most important countries? It is obvious that in the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina there was some mix of the two approaches. There was an international effort in the framework of the United Nations, and there were differences among some power States with different opinions about the situation. Bosnia and Herzegovina is where the First World War started, when the old European Powers tried to expand their interest zones.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Many remarkable efforts were put into solutions — efforts by individuals and by institutions. But it remains clear that the world must find answers to the new challenges. The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a very good example. It is an important case in itself, but it is also a very important precedent to be considered in the future. The response of the world to the situation in the former Yugoslavia was slow. Preventive diplomacy failed in this case, as in many other crises, as a result of the normal behaviour of the majority of politicians, who usually give priority to domestic situations and problems. But in the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina there is another very important dimension of the problem: a solution or the absence of a solution will influence the future. How will the post-cold-war world develop?”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“In the framework of the proposed reform, we should ask ourselves what the future role of the United Nations ought to be. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, after the disappearance of the communist bloc, there is a new situation in the world. The process is basically positive, but in the first years after the big change there are still many questions to be answered. The world must find new stability, a new balance. The danger of regional conflicts and wars has increased. The international community did not find adequate responses to specific situations, such as those in Somalia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. But we cannot simply say that international institutions, including the United Nations, were inefficient in dealing with these situations. The humanitarian endeavour and contribution were significant.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Another priority area of United Nations action for the strengthening of international peace and security concerns the necessary reform of the principal United Nations body in this field, the Security Council. An awareness of the need to strengthen the representative character and the effectiveness of the Security Council through expansion of its membership is now generally shared. Slovenia is among those Members of the United Nations which support the idea of appropriate expansion of the number of both permanent and non-permanent seats on the Security Council. This is the majority view now. Furthermore, we believe that in order to reflect adequately the political and economic realities of our time it is important that Germany and Japan should become permanent members of the Security Council.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“The functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council should become places where decision makers both from Governments and from non-governmental sectors meet and devise specific strategies. New schemes of cooperation among governmental and non-governmental sectors are needed, not least to develop appropriate models for financing the relevant priorities in the fields of environment and social development. Careful thinking and responsible action are necessary for the strengthening of international peace and security. Each of the diverse priorities in this domain will require serious efforts if satisfactory solutions are to be possible. However, there are also fears that the will to reach them has not yet been mobilized.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“Reforms are needed to respond to profound changes in international relations and should be much more far-reaching and carefully focused than is currently the case. So, for example, reforms in the economic and social domains should duly take into account the transformation of the world economy and the ever growing importance of market forces, private-initiative entrepreneurship and free trade. In these circumstances there is no place for the creation of unnecessary supra-State structures. What is needed, however, is carefully targeted operational cooperation for development and high-level dialogue capable of assisting Member States to formulate the most effective economic and social policies.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“The United Nations has highlighted the sensitivity of the organized international community to the crucial issues facing the world and the Organization’s ability to provide a framework for articulating the main objectives and commitments. It has also demonstrated the ability to formulate principal policy objectives. On the other hand, however, the United Nations has yet to prove its ability to organize effective international cooperation for the realization of voluntary, agreed objectives and commitments. This is a more difficult task, and much is left to be desired in our fulfilment of it. Furthermore, it is in this context that the question of reform of the United Nations system arises.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“The world- wide tendency towards democracy and the freedom of the individual has strengthened the world-wide cause of human rights. The notion of our common security is being redefined and globalized. It now contains not only military and political, but also economic, social and environmental components. This session of the General Assembly began less than two weeks after the conclusion of the Fourth World Conference on Women. That conference amply demonstrated the depth and the global nature of the changes that are at hand. The equality of women and the realization of the human rights of women are now among the priority issues on the international agenda.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“It is a great pleasure to see Mr. Diogo Freitas do Amaral presiding over the important proceedings of the fiftieth session of the General Assembly. We are confident that under his guidance this session will be a great success. The fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations gives us a reason and an opportunity to reflect on the state of the United Nations and on the question of its ability to adjust to a changing world. This is especially necessary in our times. We have witnessed in the short span of the last few years a variety of changes which have affirmed the global nature of all the basic issues facing mankind. An array of United Nations conferences and summits has strengthened our common awareness of the global nature of environmental and development issues, including those related to social development.”
1995-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 50 (1995)
“It is my hope that under your leadership, the Assembly will take positive steps in that direction.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“In closing, allow me to express Slovenia’s great satisfaction that our proposal that the moral and ethical aspects of social developments be considered at the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen next year has been widely accepted. We are particularly glad that Slovenia will have the honour to host the United Nations seminar on the ethical and spiritual dimensions of social progress and development, an event to which we attach great importance. If one thing is certain, it is that economic, scientific and technological views on development do not exist in a vacuum. The United Nations Charter calls for the fostering of the prosperity, harmony and freedom of people both as individuals and as cultural entities. This ultimate objective should be borne in mind in all the United Nations endeavours.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“Slovenia is a member of the Council of Europe; we have signed the Partnership for Peace and the Pact of Stability; Slovenia is a factor of stability in Europe and strives to be an active part of Europe’s integration. I do not wish to imply that there are no obstacles to the progress of that integration. Europe may have high levels of prosperity and deeply rooted democracies and it may be one of the most stable regions in the world, but the ghosts of the past and leanings towards near-forgotten forms of nationalistic chauvinism are still with us. These are in direct contradiction to the very idea of a cooperative and multicultural Europe; they endanger the processes of integration. Unexplained and unjustifiable impediments have already been raised against Slovenia’s association with the European Union.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“Regardless of the final outcome of these conflicts in the Balkans, we must seriously consider all the means and methods at our disposal that may prevent a repetition of this pattern of events occurring in other parts of the world. I speak for a country which has the good fortune not to be a problem, but a country which seeks solutions. In the less than two years in which our independence was internationally recognized, we have, under difficult circumstances, achieved positive economic growth. We have managed to maintain a high level of social security and stability. The transformation and reform of our economy has gone hand-in-hand with the rapid growth of our democratic institutions. We are paying special attention to the protection of human rights and of our ethnic minorities.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“This war, with all its consequences, is threatening to continue into a third winter, and I am afraid that this certainly most risky and negative of options will be the only one left if the international community does not prove able to bring about an end to hostilities and open the way towards a viable peace with the necessary elements of justice. I would like to end this sad chapter of my address with a warning. We should by no means forget that the terrifying pattern of "ethnic cleansing" has been patented in the conflicts that have occurred across the territories of several successor States of the former Yugoslavia.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“It is true that without the involvement of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), working in conjunction with many humanitarian organizations, the tragedy in Bosnia would have been even worse. But humanitarian assistance alone cannot be considered as a substitute for effective policy. Such achievements as the Washington Agreement, concluded between the Bosnian Muslims and Croats, do at least raise some hope that appropriate international assistance can meaningfully influence the political aspects of the conflict. Nevertheless, the continuation of the militant behaviour by the Bosnian Serbs maintains the need for the option of lifting of the arms embargo against the legitimate Government of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina to remain on the agenda.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“The horrors of war against ordinary citizens, mass violations of human rights and breaches of the United Nations Charter first in the Republic of Croatia and now in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina cause serious concern to the entire international community. I will not be telling Members anything new when I say that the international community was not prepared for 12 the eruption of the crisis that occurred within the territory of the former Yugoslavia. Unfortunately, the conflict that was subsequently to occur within Bosnia and Herzegovina has seriously damaged the image and credibility of the United Nations.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“We are ready to contribute to the work of the Working Group of the Third Committee in its search for the appropriate methods of protection of human rights. Here again we believe that prevention is better than cure, and that appropriate international action is necessary in order to prevent situations characterized by violations of human rights. The United Nations is confronted with a variety of situations involving the use of force. The armed conflicts in the Balkans are among the most difficult situations. Slovenia is the only successor State of the now-disintegrated former Yugoslavia which is not directly threatened by the ongoing conflict in that region. None the less, Slovenia remains vitally interested in the stability of the Balkans.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“With respect to conventional weapons, we support the United States initiative for the conclusion of an agreement to reduce the number and availability of anti-personnel land-mines. In short, the issues of disarmament ought to remain high among the priorities of the United Nations agenda. The protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms is another of the highest priorities of the United Nations. For the Republic of Slovenia, it represents both a basic domestic task and a strong international commitment. Slovenia actively participated in the World Conference on Human Rights, held in Vienna in 1993, and in the subsequent efforts leading to the appointment of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. By the same token, we support the efforts for further development of the United Nations system in the field of human rights.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“Slovenia welcomes the Secretary- General’s current efforts to develop a system of stand-by forces and is ready to participate in these efforts. The maintenance of international peace and security must be strengthened by effective measures in the field of disarmament. Slovenia is, like most other States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, convinced of the need for indefinite extension of that Treaty. Furthermore we are convinced of the need for enhanced security guarantees, in particular negative security guarantees. We also support the efforts to achieve a comprehensive ban on nuclear testing and other disarmament measures with respect to weapons of mass destruction.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“Though some may be sceptical about the results of these Conferences, my feeling is that they have contributed significantly towards a global consensus and have involved a whole new constituency in our work. The maintenance of international peace and security is enshrined in the United Nations Charter as the main purpose of the Organization. I believe that one of the most important questions to be dealt with is dealing with the provision of armed forces acting within the framework of United Nations operations. The variety and complexity of United Nations military and related activities have developed far beyond what was once defined as "peace-keeping". Careful reflection is needed on future directions to be taken.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“Last, but not least, it is important to do as much as possible to strengthen the United Nations financially, even though the finance ministers in each and every Member country find that their contributions to the United Nations are a significant component of their State budget. Slovenia is committed to the principle that contributions to the United Nations must be paid in full and on time. The regular payment of contributions is an essential part of all efforts aimed at the financial reform of the United Nations. The Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and the recent Conference on Population and Development have brought this Organization into the public consciousness in a new way; they have shown that we are conscious of some of the most fundamental problems that face all of us, not just Governments, but the people.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“The system of consultations should be developed further, so as to provide an adequate opportunity for the participation of United Nations Member States interested in various situations dealt with by the Security Council. The General Assembly could also make a greater contribution to the development of adequate approaches on the part of the Security Council, as well as to less costly and more effective methods of preventive diplomacy, and at the same time decrease the need for the Security Council to intervene in armed conflicts. Furthermore, in recent years the General Assembly has taken an important step in this direction through the establishment of the post of High Commissioner for Human Rights.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“All of these factors are predispositions for a greater role for the United Nations, and we must do everything to ensure that the mechanisms of the United Nations work more effectively. We support the efforts for the reconstruction of the Security Council. The Security Council ought to enhance both its effectiveness and its efficiency, as well as its representational capacity. A measured, realistic expansion of the composition of the Council would be appropriate. Furthermore, Slovenia supports the proposal that Germany and Japan become permanent members of the Council. An additional task in this regard relates to the need to enhance the transparency of the work of the Security 11 Council.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“But optimism does not mean expecting that all our crises will simply resolve themselves without any action on our part. If our collective hopes and desires are to lead anywhere, then the work must begin here at the United Nations, where representatives from the entire world are gathered. The time has come when we can make this world a better place to live. Never in the history of the world has the awareness of the global nature of the basic issues been as strong as it is today. Never has the desire for cooperation between nations so clearly superseded the wish for the domination of one nation by another. And never has man had so much knowledge and technology at his fingertips as he has today.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“In Eastern Europe, the process of democratic change is now irreversible. Though much is made of the dangers of new ethnic conflicts and the rise of new ultra-nationalistic and totalitarian forces, they become ever less likely to succeed with each day that passes. Have we not seen two of the most apparently intractable problems - the Middle East and South Africa - brought to a peaceful conclusion? The Middle East was a crucible of conflict; apartheid in South Africa was a disgrace to the entire human race. Mr. de Klerk and Mr. Mandela showed both political wisdom and human tolerance in agreeing on a transition for the Republic of South Africa. South Africa will play a major role in future developments in the African continent. Those are just some causes for optimism.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“Please allow me to congratulate you, Sir, and Côte d’Ivoire on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session. Our deliberations under your presidency are certain to be a success. May I also take this occasion to thank His Excellency Ambassador Samuel Insanally, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Guyana, for his many contributions as President of the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session. The economic and political changes currently under way have raised the hopes of all of us for a better future. Democracy has been restored to much of the world, thus not only showing that it is the most suitable model of government, but also making possible a greater degree of international cooperation, strengthening the rule of international law and giving the United Nations a more powerful role.”
1994-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 49 (1994)
“Slovenia supports, and will continue to support, all initiatives to create a better world that provides adequate prospects for the coming generations - a world based on the mutual interests of the entire international community, without the horrors of war, poverty and social distress, a world in which human rights and the dignity of every individual are standards respected by all Governments. I wish the General Assembly every success at the current session in its work towards this goal.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)