President of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini addressed the 81st United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. In his speech, he warned against the use of force in international relations instead of rules and called for stronger international law, UN reform, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
“Too many conflicts are still driven by the belief that political problems can be solved through force, changing borders, violating sovereignty, and ignoring international rules. We must not accept this approach,” Pellegrini urged.
Regarding UN reform, Slovakia favors evolution rather than revolution. According to the president, the Security Council should better reflect current realities and give greater space to underrepresented countries and regions. “Countries from a given region often understand a crisis best,” he explained.
He recalled Slovakia’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2028 and 2029. If elected, Slovakia intends to focus on international law and the UN Charter, responsible security institutions, the protection of strategic resources and critical infrastructure, and security challenges associated with digitalization and artificial intelligence.
Pellegrini warned about risks associated with artificial intelligence, including unequal access to it and its use in autonomous weapons systems. “We should never give machines the ability to make independent decisions about life and death,” he urged.
“Just as the international community has developed rules for nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, we also need strong international frameworks for new technologies. The UN can and should play a leading role in this effort,” he said.
At the same time, he described AI as a potential tool for diplomacy, mediation, and conflict prevention if it is used responsibly and under human supervision. “It can help us analyze information, identify patterns, and overcome language barriers in real time. It can support better decisions, faster responses, and more effective prevention,” the president explained.
Regarding the war in Ukraine, he condemned attacks on civilian areas and critical infrastructure. According to him, a ceasefire remains out of sight and lasting peace is even further away. Slovakia, he said, supports every serious diplomatic effort that could contribute to ending the war and creating conditions for Ukraine’s secure future.
On the issue of the Middle East, Pellegrini stressed the need to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians. “Humanitarian aid must reach those who need it, including in Gaza,” he emphasized. According to Pellegrini, terrorism, antisemitism, hatred toward Muslims, and calls for violence cannot be justified under any circumstances. Slovakia continues to support a negotiated two-state solution in which Israel and an independent Palestinian state live side by side in peace.
The president also pointed out that there are other conflicts around the world that do not receive sufficient attention. He highlighted the civil war in Sudan, which, according to him, has triggered the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. This year, the UN will elect a new secretary-general to replace outgoing Secretary-General António Guterres.
“Slovakia supports a transparent and inclusive process based on merit, with due consideration for regional diversity and gender balance,” Pellegrini said, outlining Slovakia’s approach to the election.
Source: TASR
