(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).
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