During her historic visit to the UAE, Slovenia’s President, Natasa Pirc Musar, shared her vision for the future, focusing on ethical technology, gender equality, and global peace.
As the first female president of Slovenia, she emphasized the urgent need for responsible AI governance, aligning with the European Union’s call to ban artificial intelligence uses for profiling, surveillance, and autonomous weapons. She also mentioned Slovenia’s innovative projects, including an AI tool aimed at promoting sustainability in tourism.
“Certain freedoms should not involve artificial intelligence,” said Ms. Musar. “AI must not be used to profile individuals, track them outside their homes, or for use in autonomous weapons. That is simply unacceptable.”
Turning to a pressing issue, she discussed the veto power of the P5 countries in the UN Security Council.
Slovenia has a high number of AI experts, with one in every 7,000 citizens specializing in the field. The International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence, supported by UNESCO, is based in Slovenia.
“We are deeply involved in digital technology,” Ms. Musar explained. “We are testing an AI app that advises hotels on how much food to order based on expected guests. We strive to be environmentally friendly, and Slovenia is recognized for its efforts in promoting a circular economy. Our goal is sustainable tourism, and we are committed to this mission.”
Combating Disinformation
Ms. Musar stressed the importance of teaching children critical thinking, citing the spread of disinformation as a significant threat to democracy. “I believe we will never eliminate disinformation; it has existed for centuries but spreads much faster today,” she said. “That’s why it’s essential to teach kids in primary school about distinguishing fact from misinformation.”
“They need to read books and learn to differentiate between real information and disinformation. It’s crucial for our nation, as the state cannot do everything for every individual.”
Speaking about the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Ms. Musar remarked on the struggle between real facts and fabricated information online. “The whole EU is very aware of disinformation, especially during the ongoing war in Ukraine. We are also facing a hybrid war that involves disinformation.”
Promoting Women in Leadership
Often labeled as a “career ambitionist,” which she finds amusing, Ms. Musar is a strong advocate for gender equality. She highlighted Slovenia’s progress in women’s representation globally and her efforts to boost female leadership in international organizations, especially the United Nations.
“In Slovenia, we follow the zipper rule, meaning every other candidate on electoral lists must be a woman,” she explained, referencing legislative changes made in the mid-2000s to implement gender quotas in elections.
“Currently, 40% of our parliament is made up of women, including Slovenia’s first female speaker. I broke a significant barrier by becoming the first female president of my country. It wasn’t easy, believe me.”
Ms. Musar is committed to promoting gender equity, praising Slovenia’s achievements while pushing for improvements across all sectors. She noted that only four women have ever served as presidents of the UN General Assembly and proposed a bold change: having a woman serve as president every other year.
“I strongly support efforts to enhance women’s representation in UN roles. I made it clear in my address to the UN General Assembly that a woman should hold the presidency every alternate year. I hope to see concrete steps taken by the end of this year. I plan to discuss this with the UAE President soon, as our countries share a commitment to this issue.”
Advocating for Peace and Security
Ms. Musar describes Slovenia as an “honest broker with no hidden agendas” and emphasizes its active role in international security and peace efforts as a newly elected non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. “Slovenia has recognized Palestine, and I fully support that. If we advocate for a two-state solution, we must recognize one of the parties involved.”
She also calls for significant reforms in the UN, particularly limiting the veto power of the Security Council’s permanent members, which include the US, China, France, Russia, and the UK, to promote fairer resolutions.
“This isn’t just about the Middle East; it’s about many global conflicts, including Russia and Ukraine, Sudan, and Yemen. There are currently 55 armed conflicts worldwide, the highest since World War II, which is devastating.”
“We must tackle the veto power issue within the UN Security Council. The use of vetoes has paralyzed the UN’s ability to act.”
Ms. Musar suggests either eliminating the veto power, especially for serious human rights abuses, or restricting its use and removing voting rights from any country involved in the conflict. “This would be a significant step forward, but we need to speak up and address these issues. That is what Slovenia is committed to doing.”
Engagement with US Politics
Ms. Musar, a former attorney, spoke about her connection with Slovenian ex-model and former first lady Melania Trump. As the US approaches another historic election, she mentioned that they stay in touch for formalities.
“We congratulate each other on birthdays and the New Year, but I’m closer to her father, who visits Slovenia regularly, and I also kept in touch with her mother before she passed away. While my connection with Melania isn’t as strong, I still think she’s a wonderful person.”
When asked about her thoughts on the upcoming US election, Ms. Musar maintained her diplomatic stance. “It’s very tight. No matter who wins, we will have to work together. The United States remains the world’s largest economy. It may be a little easier to work with one candidate over another, but cooperation is essential.”
