(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 27 - Slovenia's conservative government, led by Janez Janša, has faced criticism from the opposition and President Nataša Pirc Musar for refusing to sign the European Union's joint declaration against new Israeli settlements in the West Bank, reports EU Observer. The latter urged Ljubljana to strongly support the EU's position, stating that such settlements "violate international law, undermine the two-state solution, and impede long-term peace." Pirc Musar emphasised the importance of applying international norms without regard for double standards, pointing out that Slovenia, with its strong historical path, must consistently defend peoples' sovereignty and territorial integrity. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs justified the veto, claiming that a new document from the 27 countries would have been of no value given the European Council's recent positions. Since taking office in June, the conservative Janša-led government has taken a strong stance towards Palestine and Israel. The executive's first actions included taking down the Palestinian flag from the government building and announcing the opening of the Israeli embassy in Ljubljana. (ANSA).