At the II International Conference MOSTAR 2025: “Dialogue for the Future”, held under the auspices of the Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr. Denis Bećirović, the voices of young people were once again present and engaged in shaping conversations around peace, cooperation, and the power of cultural heritage. Organized in partnership with the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the City of Mostar, UNESCO, the UN family in BiH, RCC, the Center for Peace and Multiethnic Cooperation, and many other regional and international partners, the conference brought together a diverse group of participants- from policymakers and cultural experts to youth and academics.
This year’s theme, “Shared Heritage as a Tool of Diplomacy,” explored how cultural legacy can serve as a foundation for reconciliation and dialogue. Mostar, a city that has long symbolized both division and unity, offered a powerful setting for these reflections.
As part of the conference programme, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) hosted a Fireside Talk titled “Bridging Cultures – Youth at the Heart of Regional Cooperation.” The session gathered young voices and regional leaders to discuss how youth engagement can contribute to long-term cooperation in the Western Balkans.
Among the speakers were Young European Ambassadors Daniela Kortoci and Elif Cakmak, who spoke about the importance of regional youth cooperation, shared experiences, and cross-border mobility in fostering mutual understanding. They were joined by Petar Shipinkarovski, a student from North Macedonia and RCC Scholarship holder at the College of Europe in Tirana, who offered insights on education’s role in creating a common regional identity.
The discussion also included perspectives from Luigi Soreca, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU Special Representative, Elmedin Konaković, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Edin Kapetanović, RCC’s Team Leader for Governance, who all spoke to the importance of including youth in regional dialogues-not as a symbolic gesture, but as a necessity for building resilient and inclusive societies.
The participation of YEAs in this space was a continuation of their ongoing commitment to intercultural dialogue and regional collaboration. By sharing their experiences and ideas, they contributed to a wider conversation on how young people across the Western Balkans are actively building bridges-through culture, education, and dialogue.
As the conference in Mostar reminded everyone, heritage can be a starting point, but it is people, especially youth, who carry it forward into a future shaped by cooperation, not division.
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