Days of Good European Neighbors 2009

From August 29-30, 2009, on the banks of the river Buh, near the village of Krechiv, city Novovolyns’k (region of Volyn’) and island Kryliv (Liublin province), the Days of Good European Neighbors is scheduled to take place. Specifically for this event, a bridge will be built across the river Buh, connecting Ukraine and Poland. The program for these days consists of: a forum for international collaboration, ecumenical prayers with the participation of clergy for Poland and Ukraine, an international market, a soccer tournament for journalists, various sports and activities for youth, handicrafts from “Euro Republic,” performances of Polish and Ukrainian folk collectives, just to name a few. A highlight of the festivities will be the ceremony honoring the Capitola of Polish-Ukrainian unity (featuring statuettes of cornflower and poppy, which grow from the one root). The lauretes for this year include Ihor Illyushyn from Ukraine and Gzhegozh Motyka from Poland. The headlining act for the Days of Good European Neighbors concert, called Border 835, will be the Ukrainian group Druha Rika. The groups Ekibana (Luts’k), Out Kray (Luts’k) and Oratania (Lviv) will also play at the concert. The purpose of the Days of Good European neighbors is to bring public awareness to the state of the border and to open up a dialogue for the development of Polish-Ukraine collaboration, as well as to popularize Ukrainian culture in the world and create of bridges between people, which helps to create a true European community. All the participants will inevitably come to the realization that Poland and Ukraine are part of a family and that there are no borders within the sky or music.   The organizers of the festivities include MGO “Academy of the Ukrainian youth” (Lviv), Foundation for Spirituality and Culture along the Border (Lublin), VOMGO “Association of young reformers (AYRe),” VOO “National alliance” (Luts’k), with the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign affairs, State Customs and Border services, regional governments of Volyn’, Lviv and Lublin, Embassy of Ukraine in Republic of Poland, Embassies of RP in Ukraine, Polish Institute in Kyiv,  representatives from the Offices of the European Commission in Ukraine, Novovolyns’k city council, Ivanychiv’s regional administration, Lviv city council, Luts’k city council and whole slew of other organizations and institutions. The Days of Good European Neighbors is sponsored by the European Program “Revival” and Fund Konrad Adenauer in Ukraine. Through the display of art, culture, joint prayer, international fair and youth meetings, we hope to ensure a European future for Ukraine, a spirit of neighborliness, the development of Ukrainian-Polish collaboration and euro integration. This goal is especially important in the boundary region, as it will facilitate the simplification of visas for Ukrainians help prepare for Euro 2012.  More information can be found at the following site: www.kordony.net.

Organizational committee
Days of Good European Neighbors