Brglez stressed that securing sustainable peace was still UNESCO's main mission, while Makovec Brenčič believes UNESCO brings a vision that peace is based on ethics, respect and solidarity.

In a globalized world marked with an incredible level of interactivity and even interdependency, UNESCO's mission is in a way even more important than seven decades ago, the parliamentary speaker told the ceremony at Podsreda Castle in eastern Slovenia.

Berglez sees its important role in the area of human rights, particularly the freedom of expression, as well as in the area of science.

He believes that from the aspect of the ongoing refugee crisis, the UNESCO values of respect, understanding, accepting differences and diversity are ever more topical and important.

As part of the event, the UNESCO Youth Platform organised the first Slovenian UNESCO conference of the young to promote their constructive inclusion into society.

The conference will discuss the role of youth culture, the skills needed in the 21st century, the importance of informal education and active participation.

Around 70 young people from around Slovenia will exchange views on youth issues and then present solutions to decision-makers in the form of a youth initiative.

Addressing the youth conference, Brglez said the UNESCO Youth Platform "represents a special forum where the young discuss key topics, ideas and values which are necessary to understand and accept changes in the environment in which we live".

Issues such as securing fundamental human rights and freedoms, sustainable development and eradicating the gap between the poor and the rich in his view concern everyone.

UNESCO was set up in 1945 with the aim of promoting intellectual and moral solidarity of humankind as a means to building sustainable peace.

Its pioneering efforts have contributed to the better understanding among people and to better understanding of the planet, the Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO said in a statement.

Minister of Education, Science and Sport Makovec Brenčič stressed that of all UNESCO's 195 full-fledged and nine associate member states "resolutely work towards the desire that the horrors of the Second World War would never repeat".

She also said that the ongoing flow of migrants put to a test our commitment to the values of dignity, tolerance, humanity, mutual respect and intercultural dialogue.

"UNESCO values epitomize all this. So we cannot let ignorance, prejudice and inequality to prevail," the minister said as she addressed the 70th anniversary ceremony.