Western Balkans Peace Forum

"The key lesson is that peace is not self-sustaining. It must be worked on every day, protected and renewed by every generation" said Ambassador of the European Union to Montenegro, Johann Sattler during the opening of the first Western Balkans Peace Forum.

Representatives of 25 regional and international organizations gathered in Podgorica to discuss the issue of identity-based violence and hate speech in the Western Balkans in the context of EU security and EU integration of the Western Balkans countries. The first Western Balkans Peace Forum is organised by the Post-Conflict Research Centre and the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights - CEDEM.

The first Peace Forum in the region was opened by Ambassador Johann Sattler, who highlighted the importance of regional civil society cooperation in achieving lasting peace in the Balkans.

"One of the main topics today is identity politics and identity based violence. Looking at the newsfeed every morning, I think this is a great reminder that these issues aren't going down but rather are on the rise. This topic is well chosen, and the Western Balkans know painfully and intimately what identity based violence means."

Velma Šarić, President and Founder of the Post-Conflict Research Centre, said that peace is not only the absence of violence but also the rule of law and respect for the human rights of all citizens.

"The Western Balkans is on the path to the European Union. Some countries have come a long way, some are at the beginning. But we share the same goal and, as the EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas, said, the Western Balkans belong to the European family. This brings responsibility of the region, but also to the EU."

Podgorica is hosting the Peace Forum where the voices of civil society and international institutions will together define new directions and recommendations in the processes of reconciliation and dealing with the past.