Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said on Friday that today's world needs rules and respect for international law, multilateralism and international organisations, warning that otherwise major powers would impose solutions solely in their own interests.
Opening the 19th Dubrovnik Forum international conference, held this year under the title "The Age of Multipolarity: Many Paths, One Destination", Jandroković said the world must not be allowed to descend into a system where "might makes right".
"Such a world would certainly not be a pleasant place to live. The rules would be determined by the privileges of the powerful, while smaller countries would face great uncertainty and difficulty. That is something we would all struggle to cope with," he said.
Jandroković said this was precisely why it was important for Croatia to be a member of the European Union and NATO.
"We advocate strong and effective international organisations because they provide the best protection for our international interests and security. Discussions in Dubrovnik will certainly include strengthening the EU and its enlargement to the countries of south-east Europe, as well as the situation in Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, which are fighting for their very existence every day," he said.
Jandroković said the Dubrovnik Forum had evolved into a global event addressing the most pressing issues facing a rapidly changing world.
"These include energy, security, demography, finance and supply chains. I believe the conclusions reached here will provide useful guidance for decision-makers and help promote security, stability and peace, while ensuring that rules continue to govern this increasingly complex world," the Parliament Speaker said.
This year’s 19th edition of the Forum will also mark the 20th anniversary of the Forum’s inauguration in 2006, known as the Croatia Summit at that time.
Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said the Forum's agenda reflected the challenges of today's multipolar world.
"The Dubrovnik Forum has a special role because it is not just another conference. It serves as a bridge between the Global North and the Global South, and between East and West. That bridging role has never been more important than it is today," he said.
The 19th Dubrovnik Forum features 20 panel discussions on topics including changes in the global order, security and defence, energy resilience, artificial intelligence, critical raw materials, economic connectivity, maritime security, and challenges facing the Western Balkans, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.
As part of Croatia's presidency of the EU MED9 group and the Three Seas Initiative, the conference will also focus on Mediterranean cooperation.
The two-day conference will conclude with a panel discussion on the European Union and the Western Balkans.