Young liberals from Ukraine, Belarus, and Lithuania were trying to find the relationship between these three words during 22-23 April. On this day, in Kiev, in the conference hall of hotel «Mir» the All-Ukrainian Forum of Liberal Youth was held. This event was organized by the All-Ukrainian Liberal Youth Public Organization «The European Youth of Ukraine» with the support of our permanent partner - The Agency of F. Naumann Foundation «For Freedom» in Ukraine and Belarus.

 

The first day of the Forum was strongly saturated with emotions and slogans as soon as for that particular day all the guests and participants, who generally covered more than 45 people, were able to acquaint the audience with their own organization.

 

The honour to open the event was proposed to the Director of The Agency of F. Naumann Foundation «For Freedom» in Ukraine and Belarus, Ms. Heike Doerrenbaecher. In her speech, she was very concise, quite open, and expressed her expectations and hopes for the Forum, and finally wished the participants success and inspiration. On this solemn note, the President of All-Ukrainian Liberal Youth Public Organization «The European Youth of Ukraine», Vitaliy Ilyashenko, took the word, and presented the action plan for the next hours. Also, in the first part of the first day of the Forum, participants were able to listen to the speeches of Parliament deputies of Ukraine: Chairman of the Party «Reforms and Order», Prime Minister of the Opposition Government of Ukraine, Serhiy Sobolev, and Chairman of the Political Party «Ukraina Majbutn`ogo» (Ukraine of the Future), Svyatoslav Oleynik. Also talked the Executive Director of the Ukrainian Fund for Reform, a member of the Supervisory Board of «The European Youth of Ukraine», Oleksandr Yarema, and moderator of the project, Deputy Chairman of «The European youth of Ukraine», Denis Sviridenko.

 

The first module of the Forum began a well-known Belorussian advocate of liberalism, head of the Research Centre of Mises, Yaroslav Romanchuk, who explained the difference between freedom and democracy, analyzed the foundations of freedom, and described the theoretical principles and values of liberalism. His speech was so bright that caused a considerable discussion among the young liberals.

 

The second module of the first day of the Forum was devoted to presentations of personal achievements in the liberal direction. There were coordinator of «Krajina Liberalna» (Liberal State), Maxim Kravchenya, Deputy International Secretary of «The European Youth of Ukraine», Stanislav Zozulia, and other activists.

 

In the third module, participants came up to the brightest part of the Forum - considering prospects of liberal organizations. They reached a positive and unequivocal conclusion: our country has got the future, and it should be liberal!

 

Continuation and conclusion of the Forum, which took place the next day, April 23, was no less interesting than its beginning. It started with the speech of Mane Manukyan, the Executive Director of the International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY) - organization where «The European Youth of Ukraine» got full membership last year. Another partner organization, European Liberal Youth (LYMEC), and its urgent activities, were presented by the International Secretary of «The European Youth of Ukraine», Iana Kovalchuk.

 

Subsequently, we moved to direct presentation of Belorussian and Lithuanian liberal organizations. The word took Arthur Laktionkinas - the President of the «Alliance of Young Liberals» (Lithuania), Aliaksandr Apeikin - Administrative Director of the «Liberal Club» (Belarus), and Siarhei Varankevich - the Chairman of «Сivil Forum».

 

The completion of the Forum appeared to be quite philosophical. It was an interactive performance of Deputy of Ukrainian Parliament, the Chairman of the Political Party «Ukraina Majbutn`ogo» (Ukraine of the Future) - Svyatoslav Oleynik, who was communicating with the audience as Socrates trying to figure out what freedom, liberalism, responsibility, and, a person really is. The main conclusion which we have reached embeds in a short formula: freedom is a development in a natural way.

 

Finally, after a lively debate on the initiative of Stanislav Zozulia, the participants agreed on the form of further cooperation, focusing on information cooperation format. Thus, the first move to create a nationwide and potentially global network of liberal organizations in Eastern Europe was made.

 

Consequently, young liberals in Ukraine will have the support of colleagues since they now know for sure that their initiatives are not left alone because they will be readily supported both in Europe and in Ukraine itself. So, remember the slogan of the Forum: «Ukraine has a future and it should be liberal!»

 
Press-Service of the All-Ukrainian Liberal Youth Organization «European Youth of Ukraine»