Amer Kapetanovic takes office as Secretary General of the Council for Regional Cooperation

2025-01-03 13:45:00, Politikë CNA

Amer Kapetanovic

Mr. Amer Kapetanovic assumed the office of the new Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) today, after the appointment by the Foreign Ministers of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) on June 12, 2024 in Skopje.

Amer Kapetanovic is a distinguished diplomat with over two decades of experience in international relations and regional cooperation. "As we enter 2025, let me first of all wish you health, peace and prosperity in this New Year. It is an honor for me to take on the role of Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council for the next three years. I begin this journey bearing in mind the motto of the architects of the EU's single market and champions of regional cooperation: 'Diversity must be preserved, so that it bears fruit for the good of common'.This encapsulates the essence of our drive to create sustainable benefits for all while valuing the rich diversity of our region.

I look forward to building on the outstanding work that has already been done in South East Europe and the Western Balkans. In this context, I want to thank Majlinda Bregu, Goran Svilanovi? and Hido Biš?evi?, my predecessors, for all their energy, knowledge and experience invested in leading the RCC to success.

But no leader can move towards change alone! My sincere thanks also go to the RCC staff, those who have worked or are still working on our projects. Without them, it would not be possible to even think about our regional paradigm, let alone everything we have achieved so far.

Opening a new chapter in life is always exciting, but rarely easy. Even when you know the story and characters well, the road ahead always brings new problems and temptations. But I am equally convinced that, with the support of our participants and donors, we can be, over the next three years, the real change that citizens in our region want to see. According to all polls so far, our citizens have a simple and achievable dream – they want economic improvement, safe and prosperous life like their fellow citizens in the EU. And in fact they insist on being part of the EU as soon as possible.

This new chapter offers unique opportunities for RCC to be part of an organized regional effort to realize the dream of our citizens. Thanks to the financial support from the EU and our participants, we will start amplifying people-oriented results – whether through advancing the Common Regional Market, improving the South East Europe 2030 Strategy (SEE2030), pushing forward the Green Agendas and Digital, enabling young people to participate in decision-making, improving employment opportunities or strengthening cooperation in the field of security.

In an era of global polycrises, our region has chosen to stay on the path of EU standards, multilateralism and cooperation based on mutual trust, interest and respect. All governments in our framework have committed to support RCC actions oriented towards this strategic direction.

Therefore, I am ready to embark on this purposeful journey and deeply grateful to all who will be a part of it. In the spirit of my last name, I wish you all smooth sailing and peaceful seas."

Mr. Amer Kapetanovic succeeded Mrs. Majlinda Bregu, who remained in office from 2019 to 2024./ CNA