Deputy Minister Hoti: Kosovo's youth no longer be isolated

Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Rexhep Hoti participated in the inauguration of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office which is a joint initiative of the Western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, aiming to promote cooperation and the spirit of reconciliation between young people in the region.

The inauguration was held in Tirana, where this office will have the seat.

During his speech, Deputy Minister Hoti said that the establishment of this office represents one of the best initiatives so far.

Hoti said that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of Kosovo, since the beginning of this initiative has offered full and constructive cooperation, engaging in all preparatory activities in the process of the Regional Office, a transparent process, coupled with the participation of civil society.

"The initiative for such a project is to be praised, inter alia taking into account that its primary purpose is to promote reconciliation between the peoples of the Balkans, through cooperation and youth exchanges," said Deputy Minister Hoti.

Speaking of the youth of Kosovo, he said that unfortunately it is the only one remaining isolated because of visa regime and at this point he has requested assistance to improve that situation.

Further, the Deputy Minister informed that the Government has addressed institutional responsibilities in relation to the Regional Youth Cooperation Office

"In the Budget of 2017, we have included our financial obligation, as we agreed on the percentage of participation to the respective states (in this case 10.2%)", said the deputy minister.

Hoti also announced that the draft law for approval has been drafted, initially in the Government of Kosovo, which will be approved at next week's regular meeting of the Government, to continue with the ratification in the Assembly of Kosovo.

He thanked the Government of Germany, France and Austria for the assistance offered in this process through diplomatic representations in providing support in all the meetings of the working group as well as political level meetings held so far.