OSCE Mission to Serbia encourages more active youth participation

NOVI PAZAR, Serbia, 29 August 2008 - Encouraging more active youth participation in community life is the aim of the OSCE-supported "Key" rock music festival taking place in Novi Pazar on Saturday and Sunday.

Young musicians from Montenegro and the Serbian cities of Novi Pazar, Priboj, Nis, Kikinda, Kraljevo, and Raska, and civil society organizations are supporting the festival, which was initiated by Novi Pazar band Fakat. During the 30-31 August festival, civil society organizations from the region will promote their work and encourage young people to become active.

"We believe that the event will help young people get together and learn more about each other, and they will understand that youth can do much to improve the communities in which they live," said Ambassador Hans Ola Urstad, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia.

Novi Pazar Mayor Mirsad Djerlek added: "This is a great example of youth activism and we are happy to support it. It was developed in close co-operation between governmental institutions from Sandzak region, international and civil society organizations."

The project is supported by the OSCE Mission, the "Municipal Development in South West Serbia - PRO", the German Forum Civil Peace Service (ZFD) and the municipality of Novi Pazar.