More than 60 young boys and girls who represented different Ukrainian political parties, non-governmental organizations, young scientists and students were invited to take part in the meeting, as well as the experts in the field of foreign policy and youth policy were invited also.
The meeting was built in the form of speeches, questions/answers and discussions.
Mr. Yuri Scherbak, former ambassador of Ukraine to USA (1994/98) told about the political situation in the years of the diplomatic service building in Ukraine. He answered to the questions of participants opening the first meeting under the issue "National interests of Ukraine within the context of the foreign policy of Ukraine". The question of nuclear weapon refusal was the most acute as well as the environmental protection.
The issue of integration processes taken worldwide and in the Europe were risen during the second part of the meeting. The discussion was opened by
Dr. Valentyn Yakushyk, research officer of the Institute of European Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The processes of globalization and integration are mutually connected. There are at least 2 risks for Ukraine: either to remain on the margin of civilization, or to be swallowed. During the discussion the participants reviewed different vectors of the government of Ukraine on the way to be integrated to the world unions. The main problem became the lack of consolidated opinion at the government and in the society, in particular among the youth as for the NATO and EU integration. Also the participants regarded the European Youth Forum, which Ukraine was an associated member, however it doesn't take part in its work nowadays.
The meeting showed that the youth is willing to take active part in the life of country, it has relevant knowledge to give skillful answers and analyze the challenges the nation faces in, and take the responsibility for the future of Ukraine. Of course, a lot of young politicians try to copy the behavior of modern well-known political leaders - it is natural, meanwhile we can find the criticism born just during the discussions.
The first meeting was organized due to the joint initiative of Center for Political Education (Kyiv) and the Regional Bureau of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung to Ukraine and Belarus on organization of the Club of Young Politicians.
Organizers think to take the meetings every month, as well as according to the situation and the necessity. We offer to organize the planning activities between the meetings in order to prepare the materials, organize communications etc.
We suppose that the Club of Young Politicians to be non-formal union of young politicians, youth leaders, young scientists, students as well as usual girls and boys, who wish to put their efforts to make Ukrainian society more responsible.