Conflict Prevention

Fifty-five adolescents from the Prespa/Ohrid region gathered to strengthen ties among the youth in a region marked by cross-border rifts and ethnic rivalries.

The second large NGO Fair was held in Kumanovo, Macedonia as part of EWI's project on enhancing cross-border cooperation among Kosovo, Southern Serbia and Macedonia within EWI's Conflict Prevention Program. More than 250 participants, representing almost 60 NGOs, from municipalities and towns from the surrounding areas attended. The keynote address was delivered by Kumanovo Mayor Damjanovski. Marko Lovrekovic of Search for Common Ground Macedonia addressed the issue of civil society contributions to conflict transformation. EWI's Regional Director Robert Garnett focused on lessons learned from cross-border and multi-ethnic cooperation among NGOs in the region. The event was widely covered by National Macedonian television stations and local stations, as well as TV Vali from Gjilan/Gnjilane, RTV Presevo and Radio Vihor from Vranje.