The 19th BSF 2024 started in Bled on September 2nd
The slogan of this year’s #BSF2024 “parallel realities” reflects the current state of the world.
With over 180 speakers from 48 countries participating in over 30 debates, the main message of #BSF2024 is working together for the common good.
At the opening of the 19th Bled Strategic Forum President of the Republic of Slovenia Natasa Pirc Musar said “We must reaffirm our commitment to multilateralism, strengthen international institutions and promote the spirit of cooperation”. President Pirc Musar, emphasized the necessity of global cooperation in solving the key challenges facing humanity. In her speech, she highlighted the criticality of 2024 as a crossroads that will shape the future of the world. As part of the first day of participation in the forum, the president met the recipient of this year’s BSF award, Yulia Navalnaya. In her opening speech, the President of the Republic emphasized that the year 2024 represents a crucial moment for humanity, when the decisions we make will have lasting consequences for our common future. “Our strategic vision must be one of unity, resilience and a shared commitment to improving the situation of all people,” the president said, adding that global challenges such as the climate crisis, food security and geopolitical tensions require immediate attention and action. She particularly drew attention to the intertwined consequences of climate change, loss of biodiversity and pollution, which represents a major challenge for the international community. “The way forward requires bold, collective action that transcends borders and politics. “Realizing the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment is therefore crucial. Human rights and dignity must be at the center of all measures to solve the environmental crisis,” the president pointed out, stressing the importance of supporting vulnerable communities that are most affected by climate change. President Pirc Musar also touched on the current conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. She emphasized that Slovenia remains a firm supporter of the Ukrainian nation in their struggle for freedom and independence. “We all want peace. But let’s be clear: although there are two warring sides, Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine is the victim. Ukrainians have the right to defend their homeland, and it is our common duty to support them and protect a world based on law and not force,” she said. It also strongly condemned violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza, where the civilian population is suffering as a result of the conflict. She emphasized that it is imperative to ensure immediate access to humanitarian aid and to strive for a lasting solution in the form of two states. “Peace cannot be achieved without justice and respect for human rights,” the president also pointed out.
In October, Slovenia will host the 10th meeting of the parties to the UN Water Convention, where it will take over the presidency for the next three years. That is why the President of the country also pointed out the increasing lack of water, which is becoming one of the main sources of conflicts around the world. “Slovenia calls for faster action in relation to water-related challenges at the global level. And cross-border cooperation in this area is crucial for peace and security. “We must reaffirm our commitment to multilateralism, strengthen our international institutions and promote a spirit of cooperation that goes beyond narrow national interests,” President Pirc Musar emphasized at the end of her speech.
Addressing the audience on BSF 2024 Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon warned about the division that leads to conflict, and parallel realities that reflect the reality of the current world, and the dominance of individual interests.
In her speech, Minister Fajon touched upon the Slovenian presidency of the United Nations (UN) Security Council and the principles that Slovenia will defend as a country, including finding a way out of the Middle East conflict. »We will work despite the feeling of powerlessness, even when the veto is voted on. “And if we hear ‘WCNS’ during the debate, we will do even harder,” she said, enforcing the new official acronym, as she said, in the Gaza Health Dictionary, explaining the meaning: “WCNSF stands for Wounded Child, No Surviving Family,” this provoking a feeling of despair. »The smallest common denominator of the world order can only be one – peace,« said Minister Fajon at the end of the speech.
Minister Fajon participated as a panelist in a discussion titled Global Shakes: searching for unity amidst chaos, where she emphasized: »It’s hard to see violations of international law, the UN Constitutional Charter and multilateralism. In the UN Security Council you feel a certain level of frustration because the body that is supposed to protect these principles is not doing it. Nevertheless, we have to fight for what we think is right. «
The minister took a train to Bled in the morning hours of September 2nd by Slovenian Railways – Grem z vlakom .
In her address at the beginning of the Bled Strategic Forum, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von den Leyen, focused on the importance of a strong and unified European Union in the future: “The EU is being repositioned and transformed in these times due to the situation, we must find new ways together. In an age of geostrategic rivalry, a bigger EU gives us a stronger voice in the world. The integration of the Western Balkans into the EU is crucial here. Enlargement is an investment in a stronger and safer Europe.”
