(ANSA) - LJUBLJANA - Today we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Slovenia's entry into the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which had not only a high symbolic value, but also an important political significance, because at that time international recognition was still uncertain. On the occasion of the anniversary a panel discussion took place in Ljubljana today, focusing on past, present and future challenges, attended by Slovenia's Foreign Minister, Karl Erjavec, and the Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, Marcel Pesko. Participants will include Mr Roberto Battelli, deputy of the Italian minority in the Slovenian Parliament as well as Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and Special Representative for south-western Balkans (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia / FYROM, Kosovo and Albania). ''In 1992 - Battelli said - the Maastricht Treaty was signed, but during the same year the carnage in the former Yugoslavia moved from Croatia to Bosnia. And in 1992 Slovenia entered the OSCE as independent state, the only way to ensure safety and stability, by adopting at the constitutional level the founding values of European integration''. Battelli then focused on the challenges in the region.

''These countries - he said - need careful and responsible commitment by the international community, Europe in particular.

The OSCE missions in these countries play a key role in supporting the building up and safeguarding of democratic institutions. But the Osce's mission has to be supported by other international organizations, most notably the European Union''. (ANSA).