PODGORICA – Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro Mr Edin Koljenović met with the German Ambassador to Montenegro Mr Robert Weber on 16 June 2021. The meeting took place at the premises of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Podgorica and focused on the cooperation between RYCO and the German Embassy, RYCO organizational strengthening and the Chairmanship of Montenegro in the RYCO Governing Board. The new grant scheme that is being developed in tight coordination and with the support of the EU and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) was also in focus of the meeting.
Mr Koljenović pointed out that the partnership between RYCO and the German government is among the organization’s key partnerships. He added that RYCO’s work and mission in the region continue with the successful implementation of several regional programs, with a special focus on supporting cooperation, youth mobility, and the role of youth in strengthening regional reconciliation processes.
“The Franco-German cooperation in the field of youth and the rich OFAJ experience is providing us with a strong motivation for our daily work on building a brighter future for youth in the region,” Mr Koljenović underlined.
Ambassador Weber reassured the Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro that the German Embassy to Montenegro remains committed to supporting RYCO’s work as well as the Berlin Process.
“RYCO is a success story that is important for the entire region, but also for each specific society within it. Therefore, each government needs to attach an appropriate level of importance to it, having in mind the wellbeing of the youth and of the overall society,” Mr Weber concluded.
Both parties agreed that the creation of additional opportunities for youth and further promotion of those which are available are among the priorities of strengthening cooperation and regional reconciliation in the Western Balkans.