Civic Dialogue (CiD), a non-partisan, multi-ethnic initiative of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from Serbia and Kosovo, was launched in 2002 to abrogate the consequences of the violent conflicts in former Yugoslavia.

After the tragic events in 1998 and 1999 that led to a political deadlock in relations between Kosovo and Serbia, civil society leaders joined forces in a focused and sensitive engagement to facilitate dialogue, promote tolerance and trust, guided by a vision of a democratic and stable Balkans.

Through policy research, regional and international conferences, workshops, publications, public debates and cultural events, the CiD designs, implements and promotes civil society-led projects that are of concern and in the interests shared by all ethnic groups in Kosovo and Serbia, including, but not limited to: coming to terms with the recent past, youth and gender issues, media freedoms, free movement of people and free trade.

Civic Dialogue is an initiative that engages over 250 NGOs from Kosovo, Serbia and other parts of the former Yugoslavia.

Two NGOs, the Novi Sad-based Center for Regionalism and the Pristina-based “Mother Theresa” Society, are the founding partners. They are supported by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo (OMiK), Freedom House, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation (Mott).

CiD activities are coordinated by a Board of ten individuals from Kosovo and Serbia, headed by two co-presidents, public figures from Pristina and Belgrade, whose integrity and public engagement secure a high level of media attention for activities and values promoted by the initiative.

CENTER FOR REGIONALISM
The Center for Regionalism was founded in October 1998 by a group of intellectuals from Novi Sad with an aim to reaffirm and promote the idea of regionalism in accordance with the contemporary European trends and experiences. This also implies a constant effort and expert analysis of the need for democratization and decentralization of Serbia, as well as promotion of regional cooperation, especially in civil society. The Center for Regionalism cooperates with numerous NGOs in country and abroad.

Aleksandar Popov is the director and Dejan Janca is the president of the Council. Since its foundation, Center for Regionalism has realized a number of successful cross-border projects within the former Yugoslavia. For more information about the Center for Regionalism and its projects (Igman Initiative and the Civic Dialogue) please see:
- www.igman-initiative.org
- www.centarzaregionalizam.org.yu
- www.razumevanje-i-poverenje.org
- www.amcsee.org
- www.civil-dialogue.org

“MOTHER THERESA” SOCIETY
The “Mother Theresa” Society promotes love, peace and tolerance among people based on the working principles of Mother Theresa. The “Mother Theresa” Society was founded in May 1990 and has branch offices throughout Kosovo. Reverend Don Lush Gjergji is the president, Mr. Zef Shala is the executive director and Mr. Pjetër Përgjoka is the Chairman of the Board of Directors’. The “Mother Theresa” Society provides humanitarian aid to persons in need, regardless of their nationality, religion or political affiliation. The organization cooperates with many NGOs working on democratization issues on local, municipal and regional levels. Cooperation also includes common socio-development projects for communities. For more information about the ”Mother Theresa” Society please see: www.nenatereze.org

THE OSCE MISSION IN KOSOVO
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo (OMiK) was established by the OSCE Permanent Council Decision 305 on July 1, 1999. Under the terms of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999), the Council determined that the OSCE would, within the overall framework of UNMiK, “take the lead role in matters relating to institution-and democracy-building and human rights.” With a ceiling of 450 international and 1,100 local staff, the OMiK is currently the largest OSCE field presence. The OSCE assists development of a sense of, and responsibility towards, the common good. Attention is focused on strengthening public institutions through programs on good governance, inter-ethnic dialogue and media-support. For more information about the OMiK, please see: www.osce.org/kosovo

FREEDOM HOUSE
A consistent voice for freedom around the world since 1941, Freedom House has been at the center of the struggle championing the rights of democratic activists, religious believers, trade unionists, journalists and proponents of free markets. Today, Freedom House is a leading advocate of the world’s young democracies. By supporting democratic change, monitoring freedom, and advocating democracy and human rights, Freedom House seeks to empower people, to open closed societies, and to assist countries in transition to democratic rule.

Freedom House in Serbia supports NGO advocacy efforts and public campaigns aimed at generating changes and reforms. It provides a targeted approach employing an integrated package of grants, mentoring, and technical assistance to selected NGOs. Freedom House Serbia programs are funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation (Mott). For more information about Freedom House Serbia, please see: http://www.freedomhouse.org/programs

ROCKEFELLER BROTHERS FUND (RBF)
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund promotes social change that contributes to a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world. Through its grant making, the Fund supports efforts to expand knowledge, clarify values and critical choices, nurture creative expression, and shape public policy. The Fund's programs are intended to develop leaders, strengthen institutions, engage citizens, build community, and foster partnerships that include government, business, and civil society. Respect for cultural diversity and ecological integrity pervades the Fund's activities. For more information about RBF, please see: www.rbf.org

CHARLES STEWART MOTT FOUNDATION (MOTT)
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is an endowed, nonprofit, private grant making foundation based in Flint, Michigan, U.S.A. Charles Stewart Mott, who was an automotive pioneer in the General Motors Corporation, established the Foundation in 1926. Through its Civil Society program, the Foundation awards grants to nonprofit, non-governmental organizations working in Eastern Europe, including South Eastern Europe, and Russia. The mission of the Civil Society program is to support efforts to assist in democratic institution building, strengthen local communities, promote equitable access to resources, and ensure respect of rights and diversity. Through the Civil Society program and all of its programs, the Foundation seeks to fulfill its mission of supporting efforts that promote a just, equitable, and sustainable society. For more information about Mott, please see: www.mott.org

THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID)
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent federal government agency providing economic and humanitarian assistance throughout the world. USAID’s history goes back to the Marshall Plan reconstruction of Europe after World War II. It has extended assistance to over 100 countries in Africa, Asia and the Near East, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe and Eurasia. The Europe and Eurasia strategy focuses on economic restructuring and growth, democracy and governance, and resolution of regional and country-specific transition challenges. USAID has a cross-sector approach tailored to address key obstacles under changing circumstances while maximizing the adherence to core democratic values. For more information about USAID, please see: www.usaid.gov

At the OMiK’s headquarters in Pristina, the Center for Regionalism met with NGOs from Kosovo, on March 9, 2002, where a need for increased cooperation was confirmed. The “Mother Theresa” Society from Pristina graciously accepted to partner with the Center for Regionalism in a joint initiative, which would later become CiD. Since then, this initiative would receive support from OMiK and Freedom House.

The “Civil Society and NGO Support Center Regional Network” conference held on June 7, 2002 in Pristina by the OMiK served to further define the CiD and to engage a wider group of interested partners. This conference introduced a number of new NGO representatives to the idea of civil sector cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia. Also, at this conference an agreement to launch the CiD initiative was reached, only to be confirmed in Novi Becej (Vojvodina) on July 5, 2002, session coordinated by its two founders – the Center for Regionalism and the “Mother Theresa” Society. As its first activity, a conference bringing together youth from Kosovo and Serbia was held in August 2002 in Palic (Vojvodina).

In accordance with its mission, the CiD Board coordinates regular annual sessions, designs and implements initiatives, and awards grants to local partners.

Since 2002, CiD has been coordinating public discussions, international and regional conferences, as well as issue-based workshops either in Kosovo or in Serbia, providing a safe and tolerant environment for a frank discussion. Since its inception, CiD has organized 11 sessions with over 500 NGO participants from Kosovo and Serbia. These sessions have led to numerous joint, cross-border projects, and are supported by the OMiK and Freedom House.

Through its Small Grants Program, launched in 2003 and supported by the RBF and Mott, CiD supports most innovative NGO cross-border projects dealing with media freedoms, youth participation in public life and women’s rights. Through these small grants, CiD supports NGOs from Kosovo and Serbia, reaching Pristina and Belgrade as well as outside the capitals and engaging local organizations from the towns of Gjilan (Gornje Kusce), Kosovska Mitrovica, Gracanica, Strpce, and Novi Sad. Applicants must represent at least two different ethnic groups from either within Kosovo or in Kosovo and Serbia.

In 2004, the CiD proposed launching a joint Kosovo and Serbia social policy research project to identify some of the common challenges shared by all ethnic groups in this region, in order to demystify the interests of each group, which, according to common belief in a politically poisoned atmosphere, are opposite and mutually exclusive. With support from Freedom House Regional and Serbia Programs and in cooperation with the Center for Liberal Strategies (CLS) from Bulgaria, the CiD hosted the first meeting where two local partners – the Pristina-based Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED) and the Belgrade-based European Movement in Serbia – made concrete suggestions on how to put in place democratic policy practices in Belgrade and Pristina that will approach European standards and will serve as a base for further civic engagement to encourage reform in Serbia and Kosovo. The results of this study, “Free Movement of People and Goods between Kosovo and Serbia,” which aims to facilitate the EU integration of Kosovo and Serbia, will be presented to the public in October 2005.