Ljubljana, 22 March 2018 – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organised the first international conference entirely dedicated to cooperation between Slovenia and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean at the City Museum of Ljubljana within the scope of the Bled Strategic Forum. With today’s event, the Ministry has set up a platform for consolidating bilateral and interregional cooperation between Slovenia and the region, and for seeking new opportunities to enhance economic partnership and cooperation on facing global challenges, particularly regarding human rights and environmental protection. The introductory address was delivered by Peter Grk, Secretary-General of the Bled Strategic Forum, and the conference was opened by Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec.
Relations with Latin America are very important to Slovenia, which is also reflected in its recently adopted strategy on foreign policy, stressed Minister Erjavec. Slovenia’s strong ties to Latin America are built on the region’s cultural connectedness to Europe, its constantly consolidating political standing at the global level, economic potential, and the presence of a large Slovenian community in some countries in the region. Slovenia and the countries in the region also share common values and principles, which facilitates their successful cooperation as like-minded partners in global and other multilateral forums. An excellent example of this is the World Bee Day declaration; owing to a similar demographic structure, we also share common views on protecting the rights of older persons, which is becoming increasingly important in terms of human rights protection.
Slovenia and the region are also connected through partner cooperation between the European Union and CELAC. The agreements concluded between the EU and individual countries in the region facilitate bilateral cooperation in the economy and other areas, which is especially valuable for smaller countries like Slovenia. In this context, the Minister underscored that, despite the upward trend in trade in the last five years, economic cooperation still remains an area with a great deal of untapped potential. The Slovenian economy and the economies in the region are complementary, with vast potential in the fields of green technology, climate change and sustainable water management.
As to bilateral political relations between Slovenia and the countries in the region, the Minister referred to them as positive and without outstanding issues; Slovenia can look back on 25 years of diplomatic relations with most of the countries. Enhanced cooperation is also reflected in President Pahor’s visit in late 2016 to Argentina, which is home to one of the largest Slovenian expatriate communities, and Minister Erjavec’s visit to Peru in Brazil in March 2015. Brazil is the only country in the region which has established a resident embassy in Ljubljana headed by an ambassador, and is also Slovenia’s main trading partner. In the last two years, Slovenia has enhanced its relations with Colombia, particularly due to the demining activities of ITF. In January, Slovenia ratified the EU-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement, and we are pleased to see that relations between the EU and Cuba took a positive turn during Slovenia’s first EU Council Presidency. In future, we would also like to enhance political dialogue with other countries in the region, including the major Central American representative of the region, Mexico. As to the crisis in Venezuela, the Minister explained that Slovenia will continue to strive for a peaceful resolution and dialogue, together with other EU Member States.
The one-day conference features three thematic panels: fostering bilateral and bi-regional cooperation, strengthening economic cooperation – including the presentation of some Slovenian companies – and jointly facing global challenges related to science, education, gender equality, environmental protection, waters and forests.
The conference brought together senior representatives of Slovenia, the countries of the LAC region, EU institutions (EC, EEAS, EU-LAC Foundation), institutions operating in the region (Inter-American Development Bank), research centres and associations and the Slovenian business sector, science, politics and culture, including the diplomatic crops and honorary consuls of the countries in the region.
The participants were also addressed by state secretaries Iztok Mirošič and Andrej Logar, and by Dr Danilo Türk as Chair of the Global High-Level Panel on Water and Peace, through a video statement.
