Ohrid, 14 November 2022 (MIA) - The state and the citizens made difficult decisions and compromises in order to be part of NATO, and today they are facing a new challenge with the European integration process, said United States Ambassador Angela Price Aggeler at the opening of the international youth conference in Ohrid on Monday, organized by the Youth Alliance - Krushevo, supported by the US Embassy. Ambassador Aggeler, who has been in office for only eight days, but also served in the country in 2011-2013, emphasized that the citizens did more than enough to open the negotiation process. "If someone had told me in 2013 that this country would change its name to become the newest member of NATO, I would have said this is not possible. But you changed it. Even today, you have a new challenge for your future and the future of your generation, and that is EU integration. This country and these citizens have done more than enough to open the negotiation process. Entry into the EU will make this country more prosperous and stable," said Aggeler. According to her, young people in the Western Balkans face great challenges but they have the power to improve the situation in their country and overcome the challenges. Encouraging the participants of the conference, she pointed out that young people are an integral part that can make the region resilient and democratic with the rule of law. "I must encourage you to become the new leaders who will create the future you want for your communities. Unlike the older generations you look to the future with hope because you can control the prosperity and stability in the region because of all the diversity that exists in everyone. Be brave, be confident and have hope, and give your potential to improve your life and the lives of others living in your countries," Aggeler said. Nina Jovanoska og the Youth Alliance - Krushevo believes that young people are not inert to what is happening at the regional but also European and global level. "We, the young people are affected by the news about certain unrest or instability in the region, especially the war in Ukraine, because young people want peace and cooperation. To have an atmosphere of peace in which people will cooperate with each other and conflicts that occur will be avoided. But we are aware of the complexity of the region and of the relations from years ago, so we hope that our decision-makers, as well as all other people in the region, will understand that it is necessary to talk about peace and stability, and not about new conflicts and new challenges," said Jovanoska. Manuela Petrović, a representative of a youth organization from Grcanica, Kosovo, emphasized that the situation in Kosovo and the political influence is quite tense and reflects on all youth communities, especially the Serbian and Albanian ones. According to her, the compromise between the Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo is possible, if a common interest is found, but support from political representatives is also needed. "I would like this to have a smaller impact but it is impossible in the midst of all these developments lately. I believe it is very important to first of all understand others who are in our environment and at the same time to remain who we actually are. Given there is a population in Kosovo that is quite young, we believe that the future of Kosovo lies in the youth, now it is up to us to implement what we have been saying for years, to invest in our interests and to improve our future," underlined Petrovic. Gentrit Krasniqi, a representative from a youth organization for education and training from Kosovo, believes that the issue with Kosovo is more of a political matter. "We young people can cooperate more, visit each other's places and thus contribute to peace. The other thing is that the politicians, especially the leaderships of the two countries are the ones who propagate those problems, not us young people," says Krasniqi. The goal of the conference, according to Metodija Stojcheski from the Youth Alliance - Krushevo, is to create a platform for young people from the Balkans, where they will have the opportunity to discuss, exchange opinions and views on how to maintain peace in the Balkans. "To prepare young people to be more resilient to various influences and to be able to preserve peace and all the benefits of peace, coexistence in the Balkans," Stojcheski pointed out. About 50 youth leaders from North Macedonia, Bosnia, Serbia and Kosovo are participating in the conference. dk/ik/