Shame. I can barely find another word for Slovenia’s decision today at the United Nations General Assembly. For the first time in our history, we voted against a resolution calling for the US economic embargo on Cuba to be lifted. 130 countries voted in favour, 17 against. And Slovenia was among the latter. Under Janez Janša’s government.
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For more than three decades, Slovenia supported lifting the embargo. Regardless of who was in power. This time, however, we stood alongside the US, Israel and Hungary, as well as several other countries that voted against it. Why? What interest does Slovenia have in supporting economic pressure on Cuba that has lasted for more than six decades? What benefit is there for people facing shortages of food, medicine, fuel and electricity?
Let there be no misunderstanding. The Cuban regime deserves criticism for its human rights violations and restrictions on freedoms. But opposing the regime is not the same as supporting measures whose consequences are felt above all by ordinary people. The European Union understands that too, warning of the embargo’s negative humanitarian consequences.
Clearly, however, Janša’s government has different foreign policy priorities. Instead of continuing Slovenia’s long-standing position, we have had a U-turn. Without any convincing public explanation of why this reversal was necessary. Janez Janša and Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer should explain to the Slovenian public why Slovenia changed its position. Above all, they should explain who exactly benefits from such a decision.
Where is this kind of foreign policy taking us? Towards a country that bases its foreign policy decisions on independent principles, or one that simply bends to the wishes of more powerful allies? Slovenia voted differently today than it ever has before. It is a decision for which Janša’s government must take political responsibility. To me, this is a shameful foreign policy reversal, and I am ashamed! Truly ashamed.