Since
Slovenia declared independence in 1991, its
Governments have underscored their commitment in improving cooperation with neighbouring countries and to actively contribute to international efforts aimed at bringing stability to
Southeast Europe. Resource limitations have nevertheless been a problem hindering the efficiency of the Slovenian diplomacy. In the 1990s, foreign relations, especially with
Italy,
Austria and
Croatia, triggered internal political controversies. In the last eight years, however, a wide consensus has been reached among the vast majority of Slovenian political parties to jointly work in the improvement of the country's diplomatic infrastructure and to avoid politicizing the foreign relations by turning them into an issue of internal political debates.
Multilateral
* Slovenia is engaged with 29 countries in bilateral military exchange - most actively with the
United States - and in regional cooperative arrangements in
Central
Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object.
Central may also refer to:
Directions and generalised locations
* Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...
and
Southeast Europe. Slovenia participates in five major multinational regional peacekeeping bodies;
* Together with
Hungary and
Italy, Slovenia formed a
Multinational Land Force (the so-called Trilateral Brigade) in April 1998 with regional
peacekeeping
Peacekeeping comprises activities intended to create conditions that favour lasting peace. Research generally finds that peacekeeping reduces civilian and battlefield deaths, as well as reduces the risk of renewed warfare.
Within the United N ...
ability. Further non-military cooperation within the Trilateral includes the fields of transportation infrastructure, fighting money laundering and
organized crime, WMD non-proliferation, border controls, and environmental protection;
* Slovenia is a member of Central European Nations Cooperation on Peacekeeping (CENCOOP), together with
Austria,
Croatia,
Czech Republic,
Romania,
Slovakia, and
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
. Within this organization, a combined infantry peacekeeping unit was formed March 1998;
* Slovenia has observer status, like the United States, in (the Turkish proposed) Multinational Peacekeeping Force Southeast European (MPFSEE), with other participants being
Albania,
Bulgaria,
Greece,
Italy,
North Macedonia,
Romania, and
Turkey;
* Slovenia joined 13 other nations in forming the brigade-sized
Standby High-Readiness Brigade
The Standby High-Readiness Brigade (SHIRBRIG) was a Danish-led initiative associated with the United Nations that aimed to create a standby force ready for peacekeeping. It was formed largely as a result of the genocide in Rwanda and other atroci ...
(SHIRBRIG), headquartered in
Copenhagen;
* From May to July 1997, Slovenia contributed to Operation ALBA in Albania with a 25-person medical unit, which was well received and commended by the Italian commander. Thereafter, it continued to support efforts to restore stability in Albania by participating in the WEU's Multinational Advisory Police Element (MAPE) helping to reconstitute and train Albanian police. The government has pledged to the Albanian Government its continuing support;
* Since November 1997, Slovenia has participated in its first
United Nations peacekeeping operation, contributing 27 troops to an Austrian UNFICYP contingent on Cyprus. Slovenia also has peacekeepers with the UN at Naharya Ogl,
Israel, on the
Lebanese border.
Meeting NATO/Partnership for Peace/EAPC goals
* Slovenia's 10th battalion for international cooperation, established in 1996 as its primary "out-of-country" operation unit, will soon be upgraded to a NATO-interoperable rapid reaction peacekeeping force;
* In November 1998, Slovenia hosted its first major multinational exercise, "Cooperative Adventure Exchange," involving almost 6,000 troops from 19 NATO and PfP countries; otherwise it participates actively in PfP and EAPC;
* Slovenia is an active participant in Southeast European Defense Ministerial (SEDM) activities. It agreed to be lead country for several initiatives in 1999, including hosting an environmental security seminar.
Contributions to Bosnian stability
* Slovenia contributed to
IFOR (logistical support) and is very engaged in the
SFOR effort, providing VIP support helicopter and light transport aircraft missions and use of an airbase in southern Slovenia;
* Slovenia has provided a platoon of military police (about 22) for the Italian-led
Multinational Specialized Unit (MSU) in
Sarajevo since January 1999;
* Slovenia's latest initiative is its International Trust Fund for Demining and Humanitarian Assistance in
Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will finance up to $56 million in mine removal and victim rehabilitation services in the region. (The U.S. has contributed over $35 million in matching funds.)
Relations with neighbors
Slovenia's bilateral relations with its neighbors are generally good and cooperative. However, a few unresolved disputes with Croatia remain. They are related mostly to the succession of the
former Yugoslavia, including demarcation of their common border. In addition, unlike the other successor states of the former Yugoslavia, Slovenia did not normalize relations with the "
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" (
Serbia and
Montenegro) until after the passing from power of
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević (, ; 20 August 1941 – 11 March 2006) was a Yugoslav and Serbian politician who was the president of Serbia within Yugoslavia from 1989 to 1997 (originally the Socialist Republic of Serbia, a constituent republic of ...
; although the Slovenes did open a representative office in
Podgorica to work with Montenegrin President
Milo Đukanović's government.
Succession issues, particularly concerning liabilities and assets of the former Yugoslavia, remain a key factor in Slovenia's relations in the region. On the whole, no conflicts mar relations with neighbors, which are on a sound footing. Numerous cooperative projects are either underway or envisioned, and bilateral and multilateral partnerships are deepening. Differences, many of which stem from Yugoslavia's time, have been handled responsibly and are being resolved.
Diplomatic relations
List of countries which Slovenia established diplomatic relations with:
Bilateral relations
Africa
Americas
Asia
Europe
See also
*
List of diplomatic missions in Slovenia
*
List of diplomatic missions of Slovenia
This is a list of diplomatic missions of Slovenia, excluding honorary consulates.
Current missions
Africa
Americas
Asia
Europe
Oceania
Multinational organizations
Gallery
File:Berlin, Mitte, Hausvogteiplatz 3-4, Geschäftshaus Am B ...
*
List of ambassadors to Slovenia
*
Foreign relations of Yugoslavia
Foreign relations of Yugoslavia were international relations of the Interwar period, interwar Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Cold War Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. During its existence, the country was the founding member of numero ...
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foreign Relations Of Slovenia
Government of Slovenia
Politics of Slovenia