(ANSA) - BELGRADE, NOV 14 - "Law 482/99 is a significant step forward for Italy in recognising how much the minority languages spoken by some of our communities contribute to our country's history and roots. Languages, as expressions of identity, provide added value and demonstrate the significance that linguistic minorities have and will continue to have in our country." This was stated by Gorizia's mayor, Rodolfo Ziberna, while speaking at the conference "Past, present, and future 25 years after law no. 482 of 1999 on the protection of historical linguistic minorities," alongside his Nova Gorica counterpart, Samo Turel. The event was attended by Alessandra Costante, secretary general of the Fnsi, and Carlo Bartoli, president of the National Order of Journalists. "In particular, Friulian, Slovenian, and German were the languages commonly spoken in Gorizia families," added the mayor, "confirming a passive knowledge that brought significant enrichment to the region." (ANSA).