OSCE-supported photo exhibition promoting building of bridges between youth in the Western Balkans opened in Podgorica
Six young photographers from participating members of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), presented their work at the exhibition “View on My Neighbour” which was launched on 28 June 2017 in Podgorica.
The aim of the exhibition is to enable the young photographers to present their perceptions of the region through the lens of their cameras.
In his opening speech, General Director of the Youth Directorate Nenad Koprivica noted that RYCO, which has its seat in Tirana, is “an independent and effective institutional mechanism”, which aims to promote the spirit of reconciliation and co-operation between young people in the region. He added that the Government of Montenegro worked together with five other governments to establish the RYCO. “Given that the Western Balkan countries share a joint legacy and joint challenges, and that such a situation affects young people raised in a prejudiced and intolerant environment, this initiative provides an appropriate tool of support to young people from the region."
Emphasizing the importance of RYCO as mechanism of support to young people, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Ambassador Maryse Daviet, noted: "This event – the first in what I hope will be followed by many more – aims to highlight Montenegro‘s role in establishing the Office. With a long history of tolerance and welcoming people of different culture and faith, Montenegro has a unique opportunity to build ‘passerelles’ (passageways), as we say in French, to facilitate exchanges between youth across the region."
"In parallel to the Berlin Process, Austria’s OSCE Chairmanship in 2017, and also Italy as the next chair of the OSCE for 2018, are strong supporters of RYCO. The OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier in his farewell address in Vienna to OSCE participating States on 22 June emphasized the need to “develop a coherent strategy for integrating youth perspectives and lay the foundation of a ‘working with youth for youth’ strategy”. OSCE field operations in the region stand ready to support their respective authorities in the region. The OSCE Mission to Montenegro fully endorses this, and looks forward to supporting future RYCO activities, in particular the implementation of the RYCO 2018 - 2020 Strategic Plan."
The Ministry of Sport, in co-operation with RYCO, officially opened the first local RYCO branch in Podgorica on 7 July.
The opening of the exhibition was followed by a roundtable discussion during which the young photographers shared their experiences and stories from countries they have visited.
The event was sponsored by the French Institute in Montenegro, the Mission to Montenegro and the Petrović Njegoš Foundation.