EASTWEST INSTITUTE Centre for Border Co-operation

GPKT Phase 2 Monthly Update December 2006 With the confirmation of renewed funding from the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (SIDA), the EWI Centre for Border Co-operation programme in South Eastern Europe began a new cycle this month. As one of the projects within this programme, GPKT is now beginning Phase II – a new two and a half year project cycle that will take activities into 2008. The first month of this new Phase II focused on youth and media activities, and preparation in the other areas of GPKT work.

10-11 December 2005

A year after establishment, the GPKT Youth Council took key decisions on its future The GPKT Youth Council celebrated its first birthday on the 10th December with a two-day Congress in Kumanovo, where its mission, structure and membership were decided. Activities to acknowledge International Human Rights Day were also implemented. The Council is now set to begin 2006 with a focus on capacity building for registration as one or more non-governmental organisations in the future. December also saw publication of the latest issue of Youth Bridges, issue no. 4, which is currently being disseminated – a web version is also posted on www.gpkt.org.

15-19 December 2005

GPKT Media Working Group covers the opening of new border crossings between Serbia and Macedonia Greater cross-border access has been an advocacy priority for GPKT for some time, and EWI and the GPKT communities warmly welcomed the November 2005 announcement by the Serbian Government of the opening of four new borders crossings to Macedonia on the municipal territories of Presevo and Trgoviste. In December 2005, six stations from the GPKT Media Working Group (from Serbia, Macedonia and Kosovo) worked together to collate coverage of the eight communities on both sides of the border that will be immediately affected by the decision to open new local crossing points. Members each took responsibility for filming in one or two of the locations where the crossing points will open – afterwards collecting the footage and exchanging material: the resulting reportage is being broadcast by GPKT stations over the week 21st to 28th December 2005.

GPKT Plans for January 2006 Recruitment – if you are interested please check the advertisements posted on www.gpkt.org Meeting of Youth Bridges journalists and editors – 12th January, Kumanovo Online journalism training for the Media Working Group – 23-29th January (TBC), Nis Strategic meetings of the Women’s Working Group and Education Committee

For more information on the GPKT Project, please email [email protected]