On the occasion of the International Youth Day, a coalition of 50 civil society organisations from Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Montenegro sent to the governments of their countries a Declaration for the Establishment of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office.

With this Declaration, young people want to point out that youth organisations and organisations working with youth, human rights organisations and political parties recognise a need for the establishment of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office. This issue will also be the topic of the coming Conference on the Western Balkans in Vienna in late August that will be attended by government representatives from all countries in the region.

Youth organisations emphasise that they want to be an integral part of this process and advance it, and that they are ready to offer to competent institutions their knowledge and experiences they have acquired conducting cooperation programmes, which can be of assistance and significance for shaping and implementing this initiative.

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY DECLARATION

We, young people from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo,

United in intent to contribute to maintaining peace and fostering anti-fascist and European values in our societies,

Seeking more opportunities for uninhibited movement across the region and Europe, for meeting other young people and exchanging experiences with them,

Seeing this as the best way to overcome the perennial conflicts, obstacles and isolation imposed on us as reality by elderly generations consequential of events that occurred before we were born or in our early childhood,

Despite these circumstances, wishing to get to know other cultures and together with young people from other countries in the region, responsibly build a joint future,

Wishing to know what happened in our past and who is responsible for that in hope to accept the facts and face them, and to build reconciliation on these foundations,

Wishing to be part of a Europe where truth, responsibility, justice, cooperation and reconciliation are respected,

Believing that political, democratic, economic, social and any other progress of our societies is closely connected to the respect of human rights,

Sharing a common vision of a society in which every person equally enjoys their inalienable rights and freedoms,

Having a vision of a peace-loving and prosperous region composed of inclusive societies which cooperate on the bases of trust and mutual understanding.

Bearing all this in mind,

We expect that all the Governments of the countries in the region will express common will for the improvement of regional cooperation among youth.

We urge all governments to accept regional, multilateral approach to this matter, and to evenly commit to this process.

We offer our experience, expertise and advice, and demand that civil society and youth organisations are included in the process of establishment and operation of the Western Balkans Youth Office in an appropriate format.

We are confident that the establishment of the Western Balkans Youth Office would represent the greatest breakthrough in regional relations, guaranteeing an era of peace and prosperity in the long-term.

12 August 2015

Signatories:

  • AISEC, Montenegro
  • Civil Resource Centre, Serbia
  • Alfa Albona, Croatia
  • Association for Democratic Prosperity ZID, Montenegro
  • Center for Development Policy and Cooperation, Serbia
  • Autonomous Center ACT – Croatia
  • Balkan Policy Institute, Kosovo
  • Belgrade Open School, Serbia
  • Center for the Youth Affirmation, Montenegro
  • Research and Development of Ideas IDEAS, Serbia
  • Center for Peace Studies, Croatia
  • Center for Social Group Development, Kosovo
  • CHILDPROOF (CIPOF), Kosovo
  • ÇOHU!, Kosovo
  • Community Building Mitrovica, Kosovo
  • Montenegrin Youth Forum, Montenegro
  • Montenegrin Association for Political Science Students, Montenegro
  • ELSA, Montenegro
  • Mladiinfo Crna Gora, Montenegro
  • Evolution Dance Kosovo
  • Croatian Youth Network, Croatia
  • Group for Legal and Political Studies, Kosovo
  • Sustainable Development of Croatia (ORaH), Croatia
  • Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, Serbia
  • EUNI Youth Center, Serbia
  • Croatian Education and Development Network for the Evaluation of Communication (HERMES), Croatia
  • Youth Education Committee, Serbia
  • Croatian Volunteer Centers Network, Croatia
  • Partners Kosova – Center for Conflict Manageent
  • Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Montenegro
  • Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Kosovo
  • Peer Educators Network, Kosovo
  • Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • The Area of Gender and Media Culture ‘K-Zone’, Croatia
  • Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Croatia
  • Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Serbia
  • Iniciativa për progres, Kosovo
  • Integra, Kosovo
  • Konsumatori, Kosovo
  • Kosovar Stability Institute, Kosovo
  • Kosovo Youth Council, Kosovo
  • National Youth Council of Serbia, Serbia
  • Youth in the EU, Croatia
  • Independent Youth Association, Croatia
  • SAFRA, Montenegro
  • Serb National Council, Croatia
  • Status M, Croatia
  • Syri i Vizioni, Kosovo
  • Youth Club Ub, Serbia
  • Association IKS, Croatia
  • Association ‘Stari grad’ Golubac, Serbia
  • Volunteers’ Center Zagreb, Croatia
  • Youth Organisation Akti, Kosovo