From institutional partners to representatives of regional and international organizations, RYCO’s pivotal role in fostering youth cooperation, reconciliation, and intercultural dialogue in Western Balkans region once again has been strongly reaffirmed during the recent visit of Secretary General Albert Hani to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia.
During the official visit to Sarajevo, RYCO Secretary General, accompanied by Head of Programs Teodora Stolevska and Head of the Local Branch Office Nikola Kandić, engaged in constructive meetings with key institutional partners and representatives of regional initiatives based in Capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
First on the agenda were meetings with German Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, H.E. Thomas Fitschen, and the EU Ambassador, H.E. Luigi Soreca, during which strong support and commitment to working alongside RYCO in advancing youth empowerment and regional cooperation has been acknowledged. Focused on cooperation within projects implemented throughout the region, the meetings served not only to discuss existing ties, but also to explore new ways and opportunities to deepen cooperation for further empowerment of young people across WB6.
During the Sarajevo visit, RYCO team also met with Desislava Gotskova, Director of the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI), and Amer Kapetanović, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), to explore joint efforts in fostering youth participation in regional development.
A particularly meaningful exchange took place with Zorana Tovilović Glavaš, the Youth Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the RYCO Governing Board. The conversation reflected the importance of youth voices in decision-making and affirmed the crucial role that RYCO plays in creating spaces for young people to engage and connect. On this occasion, SG Hani thanked Tovilović Glavaš and presented her a token of appreciation for efficient presiding over RYCO Governing Board during the Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Chairmanship in 2024 and effective leadership in steering the decision-making process during the Chairmanship.
Continuing the regional visit, RYCO Secretary General, accompanied with the Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office, Marija Bulat, held a series of meetings with partners and key stakeholders in Serbia, confirming strong support for RYCO’s mission and role as a leading regional institution addressing youth issues.
Ongoing success of RYCO programs such as the Superschools exchange initiative and the Western Balkan Youth Cultural Fund, were central topics of the meeting with the German Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Anke Konrad. These programs, supported by the German Government, were praised for their tangible impact on regional youth cooperation and mobility.
Further institutional engagement included a meeting of RYCO team with Assistant Minister at the Ministry of Tourism and Youth and RYCO Governing Board member, Ivana Antonijević. Topics addressed included the registration of the Local Branch Office in Serbia and enhancing its institutional position. Ms. Antonijević reiterated Serbia’s firm commitment to RYCO’s goals and continued support through governance and national contributions.
The visit concluded with a meeting with H.E. Emanuele Giaufret, Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, focusing on strengthening the EU-RYCO partnership, with particular emphasis on youth mobility, education, social inclusion, and reconciliation. Ambassador Giaufret reaffirmed the EU’s strong backing of RYCO’s mission and emphasized the shared vision of building a peaceful and interconnected region.
An important point of discussion throughout the visit was RYCO’s role in promoting academic mobility in the region, including support for the College of Europe in Tirana as a unique opportunity for students from the Western Balkans to pursue postgraduate studies in European affairs.
This regional visit served not only to reaffirm RYCO’s role as a trusted youth partner in the Western Balkans but also to further deepen collaboration with stakeholders dedicated to peacebuilding, youth empowerment, and European integration. They also acknowledged the importance of the programs and opportunities RYCO is creating for young people across the Western Balkans.
During the visit RYCO Secretary General also granted RYCOgnized Friends of RYCO medallions and certificates to several stakeholders, officially acknowledging their contributions to youth empowerment, peacebuilding, and regional cooperation, including Gudrun Kramer from GIZ Sarajevo and Garet Patrick Kelly, supporter of RYCO.
