Introductory speech of the Vice President of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Suljo Mustafić at the Conference “Western Balkan Youth Office - possibilities and necessity for establishment”:

 “It is my honour and pleasure to welcome you all and give this introductory speech at this very significant gathering, which is aimed at promotion of the idea of institutional networking through youth exchange programmes in our region. I support unconditionally the initiatives aimed at building bridges among the Balkan countries, and I really believe that the young are the best and the most valuable carriers of these ideas. Through their joint projects, they can bring people closer and link differences which have been burdening our recent past to a great extent, and they can do more and better than the rest.

I will remind you that after the Conference on the Western Balkans, held in Berlin on 28 August 2014, conclusions have been adopted, two out of which hold special significance for our today’s topic, as follows:

(Conclusion No 7) The countries of the Western Balkans therefore stress their willingness today to increase their cooperation among one another. Regional organisations such as the Regional Cooperation Council will play an important role in this.

(Conclusion No 8) Regional cooperation shall also include the civil society level. In this context, the participating States underlined their unanimous wish to expand transnational exchange, particularly among young people.

It this day and age, when the influence of globalisation is ever so present in our societies, with many advantages but also disadvantages, we need more than even to have a dialogue, to discuss and see where our common interests meet and differences possibly reduce.  

The influence of deviant phenomena of various kinds usually affects the most vulnerable groups of society, including young people, who can survive only if they resist that scourge and turn to promotion of true civilisation mosaic, made up of true social values. 

The key links in this regional project, such as the parliaments and the governments, NGOs, and institutions who systematically deal with problems of young people, should be closely bound together and, through a synergetic effect, contribute to overcoming of obstacles and isolation, and all that aimed at free movement in the region and together towards Europe, at meeting other and different young people, and sharing experiences with them.

It is possible that the childhoods of today’s young people were burdened with conflicts and stereotypes from the recent past, but, as an optimist, I encourage you all to look towards the future together, the future which is as bright as we ourselves are ready to brighten it.

Speaking as maker of legislative decisions, I believe that the parliaments in the Western Balkan countries, as central political institutions, must work on harmonising legislative procedures and normative acts, and amendments of certain, previously adopted legal solutions, in order to create prerequisites for efficient work of regional Youth Office and joint projects which are sustainable and feasible in the following period.

The Parliament of Montenegro has developed sensibility towards young people through projects such as “Students’ Parliament”, as well as through frequent visits of high school students and faculty students, what, consequently, creates an obligation for improving these activities.

I encourage young people "messengers of good vibrations" from both Montenegro and the region, organised through associations and alliances of young people, to continue working on such ideas. Together we should work on that, and see how our Parliament may contribute to functionality of these ideas.

It is particularly important to obtain education across the region, which is one of the most important factors which affects our lives. If we are not ready to be open and to obtain new knowledge, our society will go backwards, and we will be deprived of progress in every aspect. Multi-ethnicity and multiculturalism of the region should be an advantage in achieving goals, and not an obstacle. This practice would help to breaking down stereotypes and removing barriers between nations living in the Balkan area.

In the following period, the imperative must be the continuation of affirmation of policy for youth, which should be based on universal values - pluralist democracy and human rights. It is necessary to strive to principles, such as: equality, respect of identity, access to one’s culture, equal opportunities for all.

The foreign idiom, well known among youth “networking” – meaning networking and creation of new contacts is an important presumption of democratic development and creation of new values necessary to modern society.

I think that the project that we are discussing today has no alternative, and in the same time, it is very important for future generations. This determination is the only guarantee that together, all nations in the Western Balkans, may work on development of our region which is, I am sure, based on values through which we all depend on each other”.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Government and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Igor Lukšić also spoke at the Conference.