Youth Political Dialogue

The OHRID Institute for Economic Strategies and International Affairs, in 2007 – 2009 implemented the project Political Dialogue 2007– all party forums on the topic: “Macedonia on the Doorstep of EU and NATO - Joint Responsibility of all Political Parties”. Namely, the OHRID Institute established cooperation with all leaders of the political parties, as well as with the members of the parties, and held a number of forums on the local and regional level as well. In 2009, in cooperation with the OSCE Mission, the OHRID Institute implemented the pre-election project “Political Awareness and Party Responsibility.”

The Project gathered the political leaders to discuss on issues which represented an obstacle for conveying a democratic campaign and democratic elections. The aim of the project was enhancing the behavior of the activists during election periods. Within the project, many meetings and forums were held in the municipalities that were pointed as conflict points in the course of the last elections. Namely, this project turned out to be a quite successful one, which can be seen in the peacefully held elections, without any serious conflicts and events. The members of all parties that were part of these two projects of the OHRID Institute were more than interested and gave a substantial contribution to the debates and the initialized discussions. On the initiative of the youth of the political parties who took part in these forums, the OHRID Institute is starting a project which will focus on the youth strictly from the political parties and their contribution to the political debate.

Through this project, the OHRID Institute will work with the youth from all political parties for enhancing the communication between the young activists on the local level, for raising consciousness for the position of the other parties and their members for the purpose of achieving the overall aims for the state, as well as for its citizens. For the first time, the project will gather young people from different ideological and ethnical backgrounds to work together on their common interests and will enable a discussion forum where their voice shall be heard. National and international experts will take part in the forums, as well as representatives of the international foundations and embassies in the Republic of Macedonia. The Republic of Macedonia is a multiethnic society in which unfortunately there are still social and political divisions among the young people regarding ethnical origin, language, religion and ideology. Although the young leaders have a great intellectual capacity in order to be included in political debates on an inter-party level and thus enhance democracy in the country, their importance and potential is rarely taken into consideration by the experienced party leaders. We believe that the young politicians have a lot to say, they can have mutual cooperation and make a foundation for further mutual projects, intercommunication for enhancing the political climate and democracy in the Republic of Macedonia.

We are convinced that there is initiative within young people and a need for these discussions and consultations which will improve the overall political dialogue in Republic of Macedonia. The topics that will be elaborated shall be in regard to the common interests, ideas and initiatives of the young leaders, as well as the role and responsibility of the young people in the political parties on the road to EU and NATO integrations, the action of the young people in the political sphere, their ideas and attitudes regarding the overall development of the political system and the current events, and also whether the local branches are strong enough to give their own contribution to these events. Namely, these debates will stimulate young leaders to take the political culture on a new level and to establish a mutual language regarding issues of national interest, thus showing maturity, leadership and preparedness to participate in the creation of the state policies. Political Parties in Republic of Macedonia

* VMRO –Democratic Party for National Unity

* Social Democratic Union of Republic of Macedonia

* Democratic Party of the Albanians * Democratic Union for Integration

* Democratic Party of the Serbian

* Democratic Union * Democratic Rebirth of Macedonia

* Liberal Party

* United for Macedonia

* Socialistic Party of Republic of Macedonia

* New Social Democratic Party

* Liberal- Democratic Party

* VMRO- Peoples' Party

* New Alternative

* Party for European Future

* Democratic Party of the Turks in Macedonia

* Union of the Roma People in Macedonia