Blanar: Natural Resources Must Contribute to Peace, Not Conflict

New York, 13 July (TASR-correspondent) - The responsible use of natural resources, as well as strengthening transparency and international cooperation in their management, are essential prerequisites for preventing armed conflicts and building long-term peace, Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) stated on Monday at an informal meeting of the United Nations (UN) Security Council dedicated to the relationship between natural resources, peace, and security. According to him, natural resources are at the heart of global economic development, energy transition, and technological innovation. "However, their illegal exploitation continues to finance armed groups, prolong conflicts, and weaken state institutions. That's precisely why it's necessary to improve the governance of natural resources as part of efforts to prevent conflicts and keep peace," he said. Slovakia's chief diplomat also pointed out that the international community has already established several mechanisms to support the responsible sourcing of strategic raw materials and the traceability of supply chains. According to Blanar, however, there's still a lack of better coordination and interconnectivity among them. Future solutions should therefore build on existing tools, promote their more effective implementation, and prevent the creation of duplicate mechanisms. "The future international framework should strengthen conflict prevention through greater transparency and accountability in the use of natural resources. At the same time, it must promote sustainable development and ensure that local communities and producer countries benefit fairly from the use of natural resources," added the minister, noting that it's equally important to promote international cooperation and develop tools that will help countries strengthen their governance, institutions, and resilience. Blanar also highlighted Slovakia's experience with cross-border cooperation in the fields of energy and water management. "Our experience shows that trust, dialogue, and common rules can significantly ease tensions and contribute to stability," he stressed. am