Spotlight on Cultural Heritage and Youth as Catalysts of Regional Cooperation 

Mostar/Sarajevo – Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Amer Kapetanović, participated today in the Second International Conference on “Dialogue for the Future,” organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Mostar.

RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanović took part in the high-level  Diplomatic Panel: “Shared Heritage as a Tool of Diplomacy” together with  Elmedin Konaković, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Gordan Grlić Radman, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia; Mehmet Kemal Bozay, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye; Zoran Dimitrovski, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of North Macedonia; Periša Kastratović, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro; and Magdalena Landry, Director of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe. 

Speaking at the event, Mr Kapetanović emphasised the importance of investing in cultural diplomacy and empowering youth as long-term drivers of change in the Western Balkans. “Culture and youth are not soft topics, they are powerful instruments and vessels of diplomacy and cooperation. In a region that still carries the weight of unresolved legacies, our shared heritage can be a platform for dialogue, not division. And no one is better equipped to lead that conversation than the youth of the Western Balkans. Their energy, ideas, and openness are the bridge to a more connected, peaceful future.” 

The Conference, held under the auspices of the Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr. Denis Bećirović, and organized in partnership with the the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the City of Mostar, UNESCO, UN agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, RCC, the Center for Peace and Multiethnic Cooperation Mostar, and many other regional and international partners, gathered high-level dignitaries, decision-makers from the Western Balkans and the EU, cultural heritage experts, academics, civil society leaders, youth and international organisations.

This year’s theme, “Shared Heritage as a Tool of Diplomacy,” highlighted the power of cultural legacy in fostering peacebuilding, international cooperation, and reconciliation. Mostar’s unique identity as a symbol of bridging cultures and dialogue served as the inspirational backdrop to these discussions.

In the continuation of the event, the RCC hosted a Fireside Talk titled “Bridging Cultures – Youth at the Heart of Regional Cooperation”, showcasing the role of young people in promoting regional dialogue and understanding. The session was powered by RCC’s flagship EU-funded project, the Western Balkans Youth Lab.

Beside Mr Kapetanovic and Mr Konakovic, the Fireside Talk featured Luigi Soreca, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU Special Representative; Daniela Kortoci, Young European Ambassador from Tirana; Elif Cakmak, Young European Ambassador from Podgorica; and Petar Shipinkarovski, Student from North Macedonia and RCC Scholarship Holder at the College of Europe Tirana Campus. 

The session was moderated by Ognjen Marković, Team Leader of the Western Balkans Youth Lab. 

The RCC remains committed to fostering inclusive dialogue and regional cooperation through practical, people-centred initiatives that promote peace, mutual respect, and a shared European future.

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The Western Balkans Youth Lab (WB Youth Lab) is an EU-funded and RCC-implemented project aimed at fostering a long-term structured regional dialogue between youth and policy-makers. This dialogue is designed to jointly develop policies that enhance youth participation in decision-making and improve the overall socio-economic environment for youth in the Western Balkans (https://www.rcc.int/youthlab).