Slovene Minority in Italy Launches Conference to Examine Its Position

Trieste, 1 February - A two-day forum on minority languages in the European region of Alps-Adria kicked off on Friday near the Italian city of Trieste as an introduction to a conference of the Slovene minority in Italy which is organised by both umbrella organisations there in a bid to examine the current position of the minority. The conference will be held throughout the year 2002 and will be an opportunity for the Slovene minority to look back at its past achievement, as well as to draw up guidelines and set priorities for several years ahead.