Bečić: Only a reconciled Western Balkan can be successful, and who will reconcile it, if not the youth

Only a reconciled Western Balkan can be successful, and who will reconcile it, if not us young people, who do not have the ballast of the past, who do not live in the prejudices of the 90s, who see differences as advantages and opportunities, not flaws and shortcomings.

This is at the "Western Balkans Youth Forum 2021", said the President of the Assembly Aleksa Bečić.

The forum is held under the slogan "A better region starts with us, from a common vision to a common action".

Bečić said that as the youngest president in the history of Montenegrin parliamentarianism, he has a special sensibility for the aspirations and expectations of young people and stated that he sees in the participants "sincere leaders and those who, by their example, will encourage others to do their best, to be a benchmark of responsible attitude towards themselves and to others".

Emphasizing that young people can make an immeasurable contribution to the process of integration and joining the European Union with their constructive dialogue, Bečić emphasized that the Western Balkans represent "a measure for desire, for will, for solidarity".

"Only a reconciled Western Balkan can be successful. Who will reconcile it, if not us young people, who do not have the ballast of the past, who do not live in the prejudices of the 90s, who see differences as advantages and opportunities, not flaws and shortcomings. Youth means energy, youth means honesty, youth means resilience, youth means knowledge, youth means unity, youth means the future, because youth must win, and the Western Balkans finally needs a victory," said Bečić.

At the Forum, which is "RYCO" in cooperation with the Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ/DFJW) and other regional initiatives and networks, and with the support and partnership of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Union, the Minister of State for European Affairs participated in To the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany Michael Roth and Secretary General of the Regional Office for Youth Cooperation Albert Hani.

Roth, it was reported from the Assembly, pointed out that the future of the countries of the Western Balkans is in the hands of young people, and that the Berlin process contributed to supporting the European future of the Western Balkans region.

"Young people from the region are the driving force of all processes. The Western Balkans cannot build its bright future without young generations," said Roth.

He added that "we have to stick together to fight against all kinds of nationalist ideas that have brought too much suffering to the Western Balkan region in the past. Nationalism, racism, anti-gypsyism and homophobia are something we must not allow. We need an honest dialogue and reconciliation".

According to him, there is no place for discrimination in the 21st century, and overcoming obstacles from the past is the basis for building a common European future.

Stating that a key prerequisite for the future of the Western Balkan region is freedom from stereotypes, nationalisms, prejudices and ethnocentrism, the general secretary of "RYCO", Albert Hani, thanked Bečić for his support and constructive recommendations during the chairmanship.

He also pointed out that the responsibility is on all of us, that we should do everything to make the voice of the youth heard best and called for cooperation, saying "let's cooperate together and make a better region for us".