LJUBLJANA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Slovenia, which is holding the chairmanship of the UN Human Rights Council, on Tuesday expressed regret over Israeli summons of its ambassador in Tel Aviv for the backing of a UN Human Rights Council resolution to set up an independent international inquiry into the recent killings in Gaza.
Israel summoned Ambassador Barbara Susnik after Slovenia was among the 29 countries that voted in favor of setting up a commission of inquiry to look into the events that have led to more than 100 deaths and many more injured among the Palestinians, said the Slovenian Press Agency STA.
Citing an announcement on Tuesday by Slovenian Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec, the STA says the Slovenian Foreign Ministry will respond to the move.
"I regret that this measure has been taken. Given the number of the dead and injured and holding the chairmanship of the UN Human Rights Council, we are bound to investigate such matters," Erjavec told STA.
But the minister did not give further details about the response, only said it "would not summon the Israeli ambassador".
"The important thing is that we, holding the chairmanship of the UN Human Rights Council, support the investigation. And that does not depend on the Israeli ambassador to Slovenia," said the announcement.
Nevertheless, the ministry will consider whether a "special discussion" was necessary. "Before any of that, I will speak to the [Slovenian] ambassador," he added.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry also summoned the Spanish ambassador on Monday, while the Belgian envoy is to be received Tuesday, said the STA report.
