The international secretary of MGERB took part in the meeting of the Council of YEPP

12/09/11

In the period between the 8th and 11th of September in Kiev, Ukraine was held the meeting of the Council of YEPP (the youth organisation of the EPP) on the topic “The democratic process in Ukraine 1991 – 2011: The results after 20 years”. MGERB was represented by its International Secretary Hristo Gadzhev.

During 2011 the political situation in Ukraine became tense after the arrests of several leaders of the opposition and the start of a series of trials in court, the most significant is against the former Prime Minister of Ukraine – Yulia Tymoshenko, who was left under guard a few days before the conference.

The main topics were freedom of speech, the level of democracy and rule of law, as well as the role of the economy of the European Union for the future positive development of Ukraine. In the conference took part several representatives of the opposition parties, representatives of non-government organisations, representatives of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and others.

The main message of the conference is that the European People’s Party will not stop to support the democratically thinking people in country. The EPP will observer for the upholding of human rights and the rule of law in the actions of the government towards the opposition and the citizens of Ukraine. The made findings will be the main moving force in determining the decisions of the EPP in the continuation of the negotiations between the EU and Ukraine for the further European integration of the country,

The conference of the youths of the EPP was the first step from a series of initiatives of the European Christian Democrats for achieving fair and just relations towards the opposition in Ukraine. In the frame of September there is scheduled to be a visit from the President of the European People’s Party Wilfried Martens, who will observe the trial against Yulia Tymoshenko.