The Russian aggression against Ukraine was among issues discussed on Thursday by Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne and President of the Republic of Slovenia, HE Mr. Borut Pahor on the margins of the General Debate of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) being held here in New York.
A few weeks ago, President Pahor communicated great interest in meeting Prime Minister Browne to urgently discuss the state of play of global peace and security, sustainable energy and the food crisis created by the Russian/Ukrainian war.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Browne took the opportunity to raise the issue of blacklisting and the unilateral measures on CARICOM countries. PM Browne strongly advocated that consultations should be held with CARICOM, before measures are imposed on small island developing states of the Caribbean Community.
The country’s leader also called on President Pahor for Slovenia to advocate for Small States, especially Antigua and Barbuda, within the European Union. He also made a call on Slovenia to advocate within the EU for the use of a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI). Many SIDS have persistently had issues in accessing concessional financing for sustainable development and to build resilience, due to the application of criteria based solely on GNI per capita by financial institutions. GNI is simply incapable of accounting for the external environmental and socio-economic vulnerabilities SIDS face relative to the rest of the world.
President Bahor assured PM Browne that Slovenia will advance support for the use MVI and support for the 4th International SIDS Conference, which Antigua and Barbuda will host in 2024. The Slovenian President also called for Antigua and Barbuda’s support of Slovenia’s candidacy for a seat on the Security Council for the term 2024-2025. (Ends)
