It is Time to Bridge the Divide
“We should use the overwhelming global consensus on the impor- tance of fair and sustainable de- velopment for all in order to en- hance global cooperation, mutual support and wide-ranging trust”
Karl Erjavec
Host of the Bled Strategic Forum 2018, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia

- This article was originally published as part of the 2018 edition of Bled Strategic Times, the official gazzette of the Bled Strategic Forum (BSF) international conference. You can access the full version of this and other BSF publications by visiting our official website.
Globalisation, travel and the digital and communication revolution are bringing us closer together. They provide us with tools and opportunities to see something different, to meet the unknown, to understand the unusual.
Yet, every day, the divide between citizens, societies and nations seems to be growing wider and deeper. In a world, which should be like an open book to all of us, we still prefer to cling to our own perceptions, prejudices and fears. Too easily, we forget about the values, principles and aspirations that we all share, and which are the backbone of our common peaceful, prosperous and sustainable future.
Bled Strategic Forum 2018 will thus attempt to shed light on some of the topics that seem to divide us. We will talk about the challenges, and present different perspectives and concerns, and then proceed to think about how to find constructive and consensual ways forward.
We do not have to look very far to see the ruptures and cracks. The European Union is currently facing many of them. The most obvious is Brexit, of course. It will influence policies, security, the economy, and the everyday life of so many people. We should all really strive to make it effective, mutually acceptable and with the least possible damage to all that unites the European continent. At the same time, we should keep the process of EU enlargement alive. It is the best mechanism for encouraging reforms, fostering economic growth and helping dialogue prevail over differences and conflicts.
After all, the process of European integration is one of the best examples of bridge building — its history shows us that even the most hopeless destruction, misery and distrust can be overcome by focusing on the future, on practical needs and common economic interests. We should use the overwhelming global consensus on the importance of fair and sustainable development for all in order to enhance global cooperation, mutual support and wide-ranging trust.
But it is not only high-level politics or multibillion deals that can make a difference and bring us closer together. All fields, all steps matter. With this in mind, we will address the pressing issue of gender equality, because it is high time we recognised that treating everybody equally, fairly and with full respect will make all of us stronger; it will enable every individual to develop her or his potential to the fullest.
We will talk about diasporas, their role and power in today’s world. These are people with two homes, but one heart, in which the old and the new are closely connected.
Several debates will focus on the digital and cyber world. This is a realm of unprecedented technological development. This is where the world becomes small, where all knowledge is a few clicks away, where new ideas are encouraged and not frowned upon. But it can also be a dangerous place; it can alienate us from one another; it can provide a platform for criminal and terrorist activities, and it can be a tool for abuse. These challenges are global and relatively new. We are pleased that there is a cross-sectoral and global consensus that they should be addressed, and we are happy to facilitate these debates.
In the year in which we are marking the 20thanniversary of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Bled Strategic Forum will again address the challenging field of international criminal justice. Fighting impunity for atrocities and the most heinous crimes is one of the core elements of reconciliation, healing and re-building communities and societies torn by conflict, violence and despair. Providing justice for victims is a priceless investment in the future.
Another cornerstone of our common future is, of course, the young generation. The young deserve to be treated with respect, to be protected and to be given space and opportunities for all their hopes, ideas and ambitions. This year’s Young BSF will reflect on the role of youth in conflict prevention, and underline their role in trust-building efforts.
The Forum will also address the important role of sport in today’s world. Sport is always a great means of bringing people together, and it is an especially important learning tool for the young — to teach them how to work together, how to respect an opponent and how results can come only from dedicated work.
Building bridges over big or small divides requires tools. One of the Forum’s panels will focus on mediation as a basic conflict-prevention tool. Mediators are at work every day in practically all contemporary international crisis situations. We look forward to hearing experts discuss the potential, challenges and future of mediation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
it has been my honour to host seven Bled Strategic Forums in my capacity as minister of foreign affairs. The Forum has always promoted knowledge, experience and trust, as we believe in the power of dialogue, arguments and listening to different opinions, suggestions and views.
I would like to thank you all for supporting the Forum, which, with your help and active participation, has become one of the most important meeting places in Central and South Eastern Europe for strategic and forward-looking dialogue.
I am convinced that the Forum will continue to grow, and that you will be our guests for many years to come. Let the Bled Strategic Forum be the bridge between us.

