SARAJEVO – Regional Youth Cooperation Office is ambitious project and good mechanism for youth cooperation and networking in the Western Balkans and it could make great results as the Franco-German Youth Office did, it was concluded during the visit and meeting to the RYCO Local Branch Office in BiH between BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Mr Adil Osmanović, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany Ms Christiane Hohmann, Ambassador of the Republic of France Mr Guillaume Rousson and RYCO Local Branch Officer in BiH Ms Berina Bukva. The visit and meeting took place on Monday in Sarajevo on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Élysée Treaty.
Mr Osmanović said that he hopes that RYCO will contribute to a better understanding and cooperation between youth of the Western Balkans as OFAJ/DFJW did in France and Germany. He highlighted that young people are the group of a society with the greatest interest in investing in the future and added that RYCO should also improve cooperation, dialogue and processes of reconciliation in the Western Balkans.
Mr Rousson reminded that the Treaty has achieved significant success, and that this is not just about the diplomatic relations between France and Germany. He said that this friendship is not only helping them to overcome the difficulties between the two countries, but also mark the moments when they progress together.
Ms Hohmann mentioned the successful work and example of the Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ/DFJW), as well as good German-French relations which are based on a lot of work and dedication. She highlighted the chairmanship of BiH of the RYCO Governing Board as a great opportunity to make good results. She wished a lot of success to the Local Branch Officer Ms Bukva.
Ms Bukva said that RYCO received 421 applications during the first RYCO Open Call for Project Proposals, of which 56 are from BiH. She highlighted that the results of the selected project proposals will be known by the end of January. Also, she thanked for the support of the French and German governments, as well as determination of government of BiH to support RYCO activities in the forthcoming period.
