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Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Minister

Samuel Žbogar (photo: Tamino Petelinšek / STA)

Samuel Žbogar

 

Samuel Žbogar was born on 5 March 1962. He graduated in international relations from the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Ljubljana. In his 22 years as a diplomat he was included in all major political projects of Slovenian foreign policy. Between 2004 and 2008 he was Ambassador to the USA in Washington. As State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between 2001 and 2004 he supported the strengthening of the humanitarian aspect of foreign policy and led the project group for the preparation of Slovenia's OSCE Presidency. He was also a member of the EU membership negotiation group and the main negotiator for NATO membership. Between 1997 and 2001 he was Deputy Ambassador to the UN and the Deputy of Slovenia's Permanent Representative to the UN Security Council during Slovenia's elected membership in 1998 and 1999. He opened the Slovenian Embassy in Beijing, where he worked from 1993 to 1995. After returning from Washington in October 2008 he became the Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies in Ljubljana.

 

 

State Secretary

Dragoljuba Benčina

Dragoljuba Benčina

 

Dragoljuba Benčina was born on 17 March 1950. After graduating from the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana, she began working in 1974 at the Federal Secretariat of Foreign Affairs in Belgrade, where she also passed her diplomacy examinations. She began her diplomatic career in 1976 as an attaché at the Embassy of the SFRY in Rome. In 1978, she worked at the Middle East and North Africa Administration of the Federal Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, and later became second secretary at the Yugoslav embassy in Cairo. In 1982, she was head of the department for Western Europe, Committee of the Republic of Slovenia for International Cooperation, and from 1986 to 1990 worked as assistant secretary and head of department for Neighbouring Countries and the Alps-Adria Working Council, the Committee of the Republic of Slovenia for International Cooperation (later renamed Ministry of Foreign Affairs). In 1994, she was a government advisor at the Ministry, and a year later, the Ministry's Secretary-General. In 1996, she was the national coordinator for the Central European Initiative.

 

She continued her diplomatic career as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and by 2000, in Norway, Denmark, Lithuania and Iceland. In 2001, she was head of department for European Integration and Economic Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a member of the Core Negotiation Group for Slovenia's accession to the EU. Between 2004 and 2008 she was ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to the Federal Republic of Germany, and in November 2008, she was appointed state secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia.

 

 

 

Organisation

Minister:

Samuel Žbogar

Phone: +386 1 478 22 31

fax: +386 1 478 21 70

e-mail: samuel.zbogar[@]gov.si

 

State Secretary:

Dragoljuba Benčina

Phone: +386 1 478 21 89

fax: +386 1 478 21 32

e-mail: dragoljuba.bencina[@]gov.si

 

 

 

Head of the Office:

Aljaž Arih

Phone: +386 1 478 23 73

fax: +386 1 478 21 70

e-mail: aljaz.arih[@]gov.si

 

Secretary-General:

Phone: +386 1 478 22 10

fax: +386 1 478 22 15

 

   

Public Relations:

Miriam Možgan

Phone: +386 1 478 23 54

fax: +386 1 478 23 55

e-mail: miriam.mozgan@gov.si;pr.mzz[@]gov.si

 

Irena Krapež

Phone: +386 1 478 12 81

fax: +386 1 478 23 55

e-mail: irena.krapez[@]gov.si;pr.mzz[@]gov.si

Directorates

Directorate for European Affairs and Bilateral Political Relations

Phone: +386 1 478 20 68, fax: +386 1 478 20 94

Director-General: Igor Senčar, Msc

e-mail: igor.sencar[@]gov.si

 

Directorate for Global Issues and Multilateral Political Relations

Phone: +386 1 478 21 02, fax: +386 1 478 21 39

 

 

 

 

Directorate for International Law and Protection of Citizens

Phone: +386 1 478 22 33, fax: +386 1 478 12 69

e-mail: andraz.zidar[@]gov.si

 

Directorate for Economic Diplomacy and Development Cooperation

Phone: +386 1 478 66 42, fax: +386 1 478 12 88

 

Directorate for international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance

Phone: +386 1 478 21 71, fax: +386 1 478 21 44

Acting Director-General: Mitja Štrukelj

e-mail: mitja.strukelj[@]gov.si

Main Areas of Activity and Policy Orientations

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs implements Slovenia’s foreign policy, carrying out the duties set out in the Foreign Affairs Act and other regulations. It also contributes expert positions during the entire process of planning and determining Slovenia’s foreign policy, including collaborating in the passing of resolutions by the National Assembly and the Government.

The Ministry represents Slovenia abroad and in international organisations, monitors international political and economic relations, and is responsible for the development of relations between Slovenia and other states and international organisations. The Ministry is responsible for negotiations with other countries and international organisations, for proposing international agreements for ratification, and their official archiving. The Ministry also promotes and coordinates international cooperation in the political, economic, educational, cultural, scientific and technical and other fields. It devotes particular attention to protecting Slovenian interests and the interests of its citizens and businesses abroad; it is also concerned with the welfare of Slovenian minorities in neighbouring countries and of Slovenes worldwide. The Ministry carries out these activities itself and via the network of diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Slovenia abroad.


European Affairs and Bilateral Relations Directorate

The divisions of this directorate promote bilateral relations with other countries and the EU. They monitor the political, economic and any other relevant situations in the countries they cover, particularly focusing on foreign policies. They also participate in monitoring, guiding and assessing the work of Slovenian diplomatic missions, and communicating directly with them. In addition, they assist Slovenian diplomats in preparing for their work before they assume positions in diplomatic missions. The divisions also draw up draft documents and documentation for multilateral and bilateral meetings and visits, provide initiatives for the resolution of issues by treaty, monitor the implementation of international agreements, and contribute to the analytical and professional processing of documents which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs forwards to other state bodies.

The divisions are:

Division for Relations with the Countries of Western, Northern and Central Europe

The main task of this division is to strengthen and develop bilateral and multilateral relations with the EU and countries of the European Economic Area.

 

Division for South-Eastern Europe and Regional Cooperation

The Division for South-Eastern Europe and Regional Cooperation focuses on planning strategies and bolstering Slovenia’s relations with the Western Balkan countries and Turkey. 

 

Division for North and Latin America and the Caribbean

The division focuses on relations with the USA, Canada, and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. 

  

Division for Eastern Europe and Central Asia

This division carries out tasks related to promoting relations with the countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, including the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. 

 

Division for Africa, Asia and the Pacific

This division focuses on promoting relations with African and Asian countries (excluding the countries of Central Asia), Australia, and Pacific countries.

 

 

Division for Croatia

The Division draws up guidelines and handles tasks regarding relations and outstanding issues between Slovenia and Croatia, the border issue being the most significant. To that end, the Division works towards concluding an agreement on the final demarcation of borders, and the implementation of the Agreement Between the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Croatia on Border Traffic and Cooperation (SOPS), and Schengen provisions. The Border Issues Group within the Division will handle tasks pertaining to Slovenia’s EU borders.

 

European Union Division

Within the Directorate for European Affairs and Bilateral Political Relations there is also a European Union Division, which focuses on representing and protecting Slovenia’s interests within the EU. It monitors the work of European institutions, coordinates and outlines positions for Slovenia’s representatives within the EU, and defines Slovenia’s policies regarding common EU foreign and security policies.

The division cooperates with other competent bodies, particularly with the Government Office for Development and European Affairs and the Ministry of Defence.

 

Division for International Cultural Relations

This division focuses on issues and tasks relating to drafting bilateral agreements and the implementation of programmes in the areas of culture, education, and science. In collaboration with the competent ministries, the division steers the entire procedure from presenting initiatives to signing and implementing agreements, while also maintaining a register of all relevant bilateral agreements and implementation programmes. Within the foreign ministry it ensures multilateral cooperation in culture and education, and defines the Ministry’s positions on international cooperation in relevant areas, while planning and coordinating Slovenia’s foreign cultural policy in collaboration with the competent institutions and Slovenia’s diplomatic missions. In addition, it collects and processes material, provides information, and carries out analyses.



Policy Planning and Multilateral Relations Directorate

 

Division for International Organisations and Human Security

The division carries out tasks relating to the United Nations and its agencies, and international agencies outside the UN, including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which Slovenia successfully presided over in 2005. It also monitors human rights issues, including the Council of Europe’s work in this field.

From June 2006 to June 2007 Slovenia was presiding over the Human Security Network (HSN), and therefore largely focused on drafting and coordinating various contributions of the HSN.

The division also heads and coordinates several inter-departmental working groups and other bodies, including the inter-departmental working group for migration with regard to general issues, development aid, consular and multilateral issues (in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior), which play the greatest role in addressing the issue of immigration. The division also participates in the Interdepartmental Working Group for the Fight against Trafficking in Persons, the Standing Interdepartmental Working Group for Solving Outstanding Issues in Cooperation between the Government and on governmental Organisations, the Interdepartmental Working Group for Implementing Restrictive Measures of the U Foreign Affairs Advisers, and the Interdepartmental Working Group for Implementing Restrictive Measures and Activities Related to the Fight against Terrorism. In addition, the division coordinates the work of the Interdepartmental Commission for the Referral of Persons in International Civilian Missions and International Organisations.

The division also covers environmental issues within the UN reform framework and the wider context from the multilateral political point of view. In this respect, it also deals with the Green Diplomacy Network, which unites diplomats focusing on the environmental dimension of foreign policy at EU foreign affairs ministries.

 

 

Security Policy Division

The department monitors the activities of NATO and carries out tasks pertaining to cooperation between Slovenia and NATO, or NATO membership (since May 2004). It also monitors and coordinates the activities of the foreign ministry and other state bodies within the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) and with reference to other issues, particularly with the Ministry of Defence. It prepares expert analyses, proposals and decision-making tools for areas relating to NATO, the ESDP, and international security and disarmament. It is comprised of two sections.

 

Division for International Development and Humanitarian Assistance

The division plans and coordinates international development cooperation with Slovenia’s foreign policy priorities, drafts and monitors legislation pertaining to Slovenia’s international development cooperation, and drafts bilateral agreements with countries to which Slovenia directs its development aid. It cooperates with international organisations and institutions, which monitor and distribute development assistance, including the OECD, the World Bank, the IMF, the EBRD, and the Inter-American Development Bank. The division coordinates developmental cooperation, and participation in UN bodies and agencies where the principles and policies of developmental cooperation are discussed (UNDP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNICEF, WEP, UNESCO, UN and other UN agencies and programmes whose primary activity focuses on aiding under-developed countries). The division participates in the EU bodies, which formulate development cooperation policies and development assistance programmes; it monitors and promotes relevant activities, prepares reports on the use of funds for international development cooperation, and coordinates humanitarian aid to foreign countries.

 

Economic Diplomacy Division

The division coordinates, organises, and manages the activities of diplomatic missions to promote Slovenian business and protect Slovenia’s economic interests in foreign markets, and to provide assistance in the internationalisation of Slovenian business. The division is responsible for the effective flow of information between the foreign ministry, the network of diplomatic missions, other relevant ministries, and other institutions involved in foreign trade relations. It monitors and coordinates Slovenia’s activities in bilateral and multilateral trade relations to ensure a coordinated approach and represents Slovenia in the EU with regard to the WTO, UNCTAD, the UN/ECE, the EBRD, and the WB/IMF. The division coordinates Slovenia’s inclusion in the OECD at the national level, and monitors and promotes cooperation between Slovenian ministries and the OECD’s working bodies. 

 

Policy Planning and Research Division

The division studies international political, economic, scientific and cultural trends to provide solid analytical and expert support to the decision makers who decide on Slovenia’s foreign policy priorities. The analysis and research are published in regular and special periodicals and programming documents intended for policymakers involved in designing Slovenia’s foreign policy strategy. 



International Law and Protection of Interests Directorate

 

International Law Division

The principal function of the International Law Division is to provide legal advice to Minister and officials within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as other Ministries on matters of public international law, EU law and relevant domestic law including the national procedure on the ratification process of international treaties. The division studies and monitors the development of international law and its institutions, the codification of international law, the system and development of international universal and regional organizations, and the legal aspects of Slovenia's integration within them. With regard to this and current international issues the division compiles and processes material, prepares legal opinions, analyses, and reports for the ministry and other state bodies, including answers to questions submitted by the National Assembly or by the general public. The division is also responsible for a data-base of the concluded international treaties.

The work of the Division involves a wide variety of legal questions, including advising on the legal aspects of foreign policy, negotiating and drafting international agreements, conducting negotiations with other governments and international organizations. International Law Division is the main centre of expertise in public international law within the Government, and is consulted by other Government Departments on issues of international and EU law. The division sends representatives to international working and professional meetings and conferences or international organizations (i.e. UN, EU, Council of Europe, OSCE) and coordinates the adjustment and harmonization process with the EU acquis.

 

 

Consular Division

The Consular Division protects the interests of Slovenia, its citizens, and legal entities abroad, and monitors legislation relating to citizenship, immigration, foreigners in Slovenia, and similar issues. It also trains diplomats who manage consular affairs at the diplomatic and consular missions of Slovenia.

The division also issues permits for flights and landings of aircraft of the Government of the RS and foreign governments, the docking of ships at Slovenian ports, and humanitarian or military transportation across Slovenian territory. It informs foreign diplomatic and consular missions of detentions, car accidents and other incidents in which their citizens have been involved, and notifies the next of kin of Slovenian citizens when similar events occur abroad.

 

Division for Protocol, Privileges and Immunities, Diplomatic Correspondence and Translation

The division makes arrangements for working visits of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the country and abroad, organises international conferences and meetings at the ministerial level and below and prepares other protocol events. The Section for Privileges and Immunities of the Diplomatic Protocol performs tasks which involve diplomatic privileges and immunities. It is responsible for ensuring compliance with the provisions on privileges and immunities contained in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) and Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963). The Section for Diplomatic Correspondence ensures respect for courtesy norms and customs in communicating with other countries; it conducts the procedure for granting the agrément to Heads of Diplomatic Missions in the RS and for granting an exequatur to consular officers in the RS. This division also assists foreign diplomatic and consular missions and representations of international organisations in Slovenia, and facilitates the conditions for their operation in Slovenia.

 

Embassies of the Republic of Slovenia  (Link to the website of the Ministry)