Free German Youth
Member of World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) since 1948


Final declaration of the FDJ Delegation
for the 15th World Festival of Youth and Students

 
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The international Socialist and Communist Youth Movement is faced today more than ever with a duty to warn the Youth of the World of Imperialist Barbarity and Slaughter of Peoples, to win the Youth of the World for the aim of Socialism. The duty also, to defend the Socialist and Revolutionary-Democratic countries and to fight and not to tolerate any meddling into the affairs of other countries and peoples.
After the last, the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students in 1997, it was clear that Revolutionary Cuba could not also host the 15th World Festival. With the decision though, to choose Algeria as a host country, the duties of the Socialist Youth Movement did not become less nor easier. Quite the contrary. There were many debates and discussions beforehand as well as in Algeria itself. Discussions, that distracted the delegates from the original aim of this meeting of Youth Organisations.
This means for us, the FDJ, that we do anything within our power to warn the Youth that is affected by German Imperialism of this German Imperialism. It means for us, to strive for common work with all Youth Organisations, to help the 15th World Festival come out as a success.
For this reason, we were right in sending as big a delegation as possible to the 15th World Festival of Youth and Students. We participated actively, for example, in the organisation of a political program with political and cultural events in the Club of Europe and Asia-Pacific Region. We held and carried out several events ourselves and fought for the attitude to fight Imperialism in one's own country.

Our central slogans were:
Germany is the main War-Monger in Europe!
For an alliance of the Peoples against Germany!
Long live the World Federation of Democratic Youth!

These our slogans, we carried during the opening ceremony at the march into the stadium and they were also visible in the regional club during the whole time of Festival. We had to make the experience that the actual struggle and the actual situation of the Youth in Europe was rarely to be seen. So, a political appearance was only an exception from the rule - the FDJ marched into the stadium as a formation with red flags, FDJ-flags and GDR-flags. In many cases there was no other political material than national flags. We were sorry for this.
We have experienced ourselves what it means: As a big organisation in the GDR, the FDJ has almost broken up after the annexation of the GDR, because of a lack of clarity in the political fight. What the WFDY needs until today (and the World Festival Movement shall serve to achieve this) is an open debate on the analysis of today's international situation, is a debate on the question of war or peace in Europe as well as in the world, is a debate on the question of Socialism or decline in barbarity. To set up a common, revolutionary and short action program in this sense is of utmost importance.
The World Federation of Youth and Students and its function as a forum for the international community of the Youth Organisations must be strengthened and supported further on all accounts. More than ever, we, the FDJ, must be active within the WFDY.
In the face of the aggressions that are carried out against the neighbouring countries of Germany getting more and more acute and dangerous, we will strive for contact especially with those organisations that are attacked by German Imperialism. This we want to do with the aim of a common work to the mutual benefit. Here, we see ourselves in the duty to condemn the threat against other peoples not abstract and generally, but concretely. We see ourselves in the duty to strengthen the fight against it in our own country.

Forward to the 16th World Festival of Youth and Students!

Berlin, October 2001

  

Freie Deutsche Jugend, Zentralrat, Karl-Liebknecht-Haus,
Weydingerstr. 14-16, 10178 Berlin,
Tel./Fax ++49-30-24 00 92 11

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