SARAJEVO – The Institute for Youth Development KULT and the Regional Youth Cooperation Office – RYCO, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on October 22, 2019, formalising their cooperation on improving the position of youth in the Western Balkans, especially in terms of mobility, reconciliation and international cooperation of young people.
“For over 17 years, the Institute has been working on creating youth policies and improving the position of youth, and we have been active in the region as well over the past few years. Our wish to use our knowledge and experience at the regional level is the reason why we’re signing this memorandum with RYCO”, said the Executive Director of the Institute, Jasmin Bešić, who also shared that he is very proud and pleased that the Regional Youth Cooperation Office for Western Balkans – RYCO exists.
“The idea of regional cooperation, dialogue and working with youth predates the founding of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office, and we recognize the importance of all those who have been actively working on this for a long time, and can be our partners in the region. The Institute for Youth Development KULT is a partner with credibility and significant resources that I believe will contribute to the quality of our work in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans”, said the General Secretary of RYCO, Mr Đuro Blanuša, noting the importance of cooperation and networking of youth in the region, and within BiH as well.
After signing the memorandum, the Institute and RYCO are considering joint initiatives that will benefit youth in the Western Balkans.
The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) is an independent institutional mechanism established by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, with the intention of promoting reconciliation and cooperation among youth in the region through youth exchange programs RYCO’s mission includes supporting projects that contribute to reconciliation in the region, by improving youth mobility, cooperation and activism.
More about RYCO is available on their website.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
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