Blanar: Slovakia Relies on Diplomacy, Not Military Power, to Secure Its Future

Bratislava, April 24 (TASR) - A peaceful and prosperous future for medium-sized countries without large armies or strong economies, such as Slovakia, fundamentally depends on upholding international law and preserving diplomacy as the main means of resolving disputes between states, said Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) on the occasion of the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace on Thursday, TASR learnt from the ministry's communications department on the same day. According to Blanar, armed conflicts, trade wars, pandemics, climate change, illegal migration and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence all mean that cooperation between nations is indispensable for maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity. "Slovakia and Slovak diplomacy advocate for adherence to international law and the United Nations Charter at multilateral forums and during bilateral negotiations. We promote diplomatic solutions to conflicts. Our foreign policy actively supports the use of peaceful diplomatic tools, such as negotiations, dialogue and diplomatic efforts," he said, adding that Slovakia has been a advocate of multilateralism and the crucial role of the United Nations since it was founded. The Foreign Ministry highlighted that Slovak diplomats have chaired the UN General Assembly and the International Court of Justice, and that they continue to hold senior positions within UN structures. Slovakia has twice served on the UN Economic and Social Council and the Human Rights Council, and it's been a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. It's now seeking re-election for the 2028–2029 term. The ministry also noted that Slovakia is a member of nearly all major international organisations, including the OSCE, OECD, Council of Europe, European Union and NATO. lin/df