Second Congress of New Diaspora of Europe and the United States took place in Strasbourg

From April 24 to April 28 2009 the Second Congress of New Diaspora of Europe and the United States took place in Strasbourg (France). This year it bore the name of Forum of New Belarusian Leaders: the Renaissance Generation and was oriented towards Belarus-EU relations, as well as to making new generation of Belarusians living in the EU more active.

Among the participants were 35 leaders of new generation of Belarusian from 14 countries of Europe and the United States, representatives of Belarusian civil society, as well as leading Belarusian experts in the fields of politics, media, and civil society. Among the guests of the Congress were leader of For Freedom! movement Alexander Milinkevich, deputy head of Rada (Council) of Belarusian People’s Republic Syarhei Navumchyk, political scientists Pyotr Martsev and Yuryi Drakahrust, human rights activists Inna Kulei and Andrei Kim, co-head of Belarusian Christian Democracy Alyaksei Shein amd member of political council of United Civil Party Volha Karach.

The participants of the Congress discussed current situation in Belarus and dialogue between Belarusian authorities and European institutions, conducted debates on the future of Belarus, perspectives of European integration, as well as values that unite or divide Belarusian society, evaluated the work of the Congress during the past year, and planned a number of new projects and initiatives.

The Congress adopted the final declaration containing recommendations to Belarusian authorities and European institutions on joint cooperation, as well as two statements concerning prosecution of Nikolai Avtukhovich and his colleagues and construction of nuclear power plant in Belarus. The texts of final documents were presented to European structures, Belarusian representatives at the Council of Europe, and mass media.

During the event the participants met with representatives of the Conference of international non-governmental organizations of the Council of Europe, PACE, and professionals in the field of human rights protection. On April 27, in the presence of Hristos Purgurides, PACE reporter on Belarus, a ceremony was held during which the Order of Freedom was awarded to the best youth activist in Belarus of 2008. This year the Order was awarded to youth activist Andrei Kim and leader of Soligorsk Youth Front Ivan Shilo. In Youth European Center in Strasbourg, where the Congress took place, there was organized the Young Press Photo exhibition of Belarusian young photographers, as well as Belarusian artist Valeriya Krasouskaya.

The Second Congress of New Belarusian Diaspora of Europe and the United States was organized by the Third Way international community, with the assistance of initiatives and organizations included in Belarusian international movement, with the support from Rada (Council) of Belarusian People’s Republic, Conference of international non-governmental organizations at the Council of Europe, and The German Marshall Fund of the United State. The First Congress of New Belarusian Diaspora of Europe and the United States took place in Tallinn, Estonia from March 1 to March 4.