On the eve of a meeting of the Regional office for the cooperation of youths (RYCO) Managing Board due to be held in Pristina, Serbia’s representative Milica Skiljevic was replaced because she said she would go to Kosovo despite the country’s instructions, N1 reported on Wednesday.

The reason for her replacement was Serbia’s Government decision that the move would be against the country’s interest, while Skiljevic said she only wanted to present the interest of young people.

On International Youth Day, RYCO secretary general and his deputy wrote a letter to the youth of the Western Balkans.

Djuro Blanusa's and Fatos Mustafa's letter is also addressed to stakeholders involved in the youth related field.
The letter reads the following:

As prejudice and stereotyping continue to shape attitudes in the Western Balkans, the culture of separation does not serve the interests of youth, the region and European integration, we have to jointly work hard and enable the youth of the region to bring the much needed change.

Kosovo’s Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports, Rexhep Hoti, said that the decision of the Serbian List to return to Kosovo institutions is part of an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia. Hoti said Kosovo agreed to the Secretary General of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office of the Western Balkans (RYCO) being appointed by Serbia in exchange for the return of the Serbian List. “This is the truth of the matter in question,” Hoti said. “Of course, all this agreement would not have been possible without the direct contribution of Germany,” he added.