BIALYSTALK
ISSUE 2
11th National Session of EYP Poland in Bialystok
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EDITOR Timon Fahl
VIDEO EDITOR Adam Borowski
JOURNALISTS Elif Aydinlandi Anna Barkemeyer Aleksandra Bieluk Malgosia Giemza Zuzanna Gil Aaron Graham Vladislava Kachurova Giedre Kazokaite Lilpar Özcan
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Dear participants, By the time you are reading this, you will already be completely absorbed by the session. Hopefully you have all enjoyed the Welcome Party and already made numerous new friends during Teambuilding. In this Issue we tried to include all kinds of different aspects of this session. We provide you with diverse content ensuring your entertainment, as well as some food for thought. You can find out more about the people behind the scenes of the session – the Head Organiser and his team of organisers - and also gain an insight into our President’s thoughts on the session and the EYP in general. You will be able to find out how Polish you truly are and get some fun facts about Bialystok. The articles on Turkey’s possible accession to the EU, the conflict in the Ukraine seen from a Russian point of view, and the importance of Mr. Tusk’s election as President of the European Council will provide you with plenty of food for thought during your free time. At this point we want to acknowledge the most important participants of this session – you. You, who are reading this right now, in this moment, because you are our constant source of inspiration. This issue is created for you and because of you - see it as an exchange for your enthusiasm and hard work. We hope that you enjoy reading this issue as much as we enjoyed making it and that you also stop by the Facebook page of the session, where we will be posting many photos during the next few days. All the best, your journalists.
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FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
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AN OPINION ON THE UKRAINIAN CONFLICT
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WHAT DOES THE ELECTION OF DONALD TUSK FOR THE PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN COUNCIL MEAN FOR EUROPE?
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IS IT A DREAM ?
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DONALD - THE PRESIDENT
TURKEY AS MEMBER STATE
HOW TO...PRESIDE A SESSION OF THE EYP AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT
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HOPES AND FEARS OF ORGANISERS
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BIALYSTOK
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WE ARE ALL A LITTLE POLISH
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BRINGING COOKIES TO PEOPLE
6 THINGS YOU DID NOT KNOW ABOUT HOW POLISH ARE YOU? PHOTO CREDITS
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FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. An opinion on the Ukrainian conflict
Nearly a year ago simultaneously with the events at the Euromaidan an informational warfare (spreading propaganda, misinformation and denial of opportunities to collect information for opposing forces) for attracting the public’s attention broke out on TV screens, radios, and the internet. It quickly became difficult for observers from both sides to resist the temptation of running into extremes and turning into either “pro-Russians“, “pro-Ukrainians“ or “pro-Europeans“. However, for some people three options do not seem to be quite enough, right? So, I am proposing an additional option to you. It is called the “pro-yourself“ option, in which everyone decides for himself or herself what to believe in after looking at this matter from different perspectives.
Today I suggest, that you look at the current situation of the Ukrainian - Russian - European - conflict from a Russian perspective . The essence of the information we get in Russia is diametrically opposed to the European one. The first and most vivid example of the difference is the way we call Eastern rebels. In Russian media they are “militiamen“, “members of people‘s volunteer corps“, whereas in the European and U.S. American media they
are known as “pro-Russian rebels“, “Putin-backed rebels“, or “Separatists“. What is it, but different attitudes towards different sides of the same conflict? Russia sees militias as protectors, people who are forced to defend themselves, while in European media they are being treated as the ones who unleashed the war. Secondly, in my opinion the actions of the U.S. and NATO are some of the most controversial points of discussion in the ongoing conflict. According to the image that is portrayed to young Europeans is exclusively positive, while Russia‘s attitude towards the NATO is mostly negative. In addition, there is a discrepancy in obtaining information, that influences the image among citizens. For instance, information about “NATO troops in the Ukraine“ - is easily obtainable from Russian media sources, whilst the European ones provide very little information on this topic. It is worth mentioning, that there is a formal basis for NATO-Ukraine relations, due to the 1997 Charter on a Distinctive Partnership, which established the NATO -Ukraine commission (NUC), and the declaration to Complement the Charter, which was signed in 2009. Probably this is why the NATO is ready to stand up for its “partner“. Furthermore, the NATO is in the Ukrainians debt, as in 2013 it became the first partner country to contribute to the NATO led counter-piracy operation, Ocean Shield. Nevertheless, Moscow considers the expansion of influence of the NATO to be destabilising for Europe and the Ukraine in particular. For Russia this influence is considered to be destabilising too. A single person can hardly speak on behalf of an entire country, but in my opinion the majority of the population in Russia feels rather suspicious about the NATO. In Russia Obama is as infamous as Putin in Euro-
pe. And in my personal opinion they both deserve their ill fame. Regarding the NATO and all its actions around the world, it seems that the only aim it wants to achieve is to escalate its influence around the world, and be able to manipulate others. As far as the situation in Crimea is concerned, the EU and the USA claim that “Russia‘s actions were in violation of Ukraine‘s sovereignty and territorial integrity“. However, Russia has argued repeatedly that the referendum, which was held and the military actions taken were within the boundaries of international law, referring to the principle of self determination under Article 1 of the UN Charter and intervention carried out by the NATO in Kosovo in 1998, which resulted in Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Serbia in February 2008. Whilst all 11 representatives of the Serb minority boycotted the proceedings, the Assembly of Kosovo anonymously declared itself independent from Serbia. Despite the fact that Serbia sought for international support concerning the independence, the International Court of Justice ruled that it had not violated any international law. The aforementioned gives ground for Russia to demand, that the Crimean independence from the Ukraine to be recognised. It has also been said, that the turnouts of the votes were biased, however, according to a survey conducted by PEW RESEARCH CENTER soon after the referendum, more than a half (54%) of the voices were given in favour of secession. Nevertheless, it is important to admit that a lot of “blank spaces“ remain in this conflict and we cannot fully trust any piece of news as this conflict is a question of geo-economic politics and politics in itself is merciless. As one of the officials said yesterday “the truth does not exist“ despite totally disagreeing with him, I have to admit, that in terms of the Ukrainian conflict the truth does not exist and the only option we have is to consider as many perspectives as possible when making our mind up about something. Vladislava Kachurova
DONALD - THE PRESIDENT
What does the election of Donald Tusk for the President of European Council mean for Europe?
On the 1st of December 2015 Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will officially start his first term as the President of European Council. His nomination is quite a historical moment for the European Union, he is the first person from the ‘new’ EU member states to achieve such a high rank in the bureaucracy. Generally the response to the decision was very positive, both abroad and domestically. It has been perceived as personal success for Tusk and for the country in general. Some, out of euphoria announced him as a ‘King’ of Europe. Though, perfectly understandable, these reactions are mainly grounded in the symbolism of this circumstance, rather than a cold analysis of its consequences. So let us explore the real meaning of that. The office of a president of the European Council was established in 2009 as a part of a broader EU reform that was crowned with the ratification of the famous Lisbon Treaty, it has been proclaimed as evidence of a deeper European integration and the established office to be the President of Europe. However, those who are familiar with the nuances of European politics, are aware that the detailed competence of such officials are by far not entirely clear. The only competence, that is explicitly stated, is facilitating European Council meetings. Apart from that, his role is largely political. Essentially, the extent of the influence he will have largely depends on the character of the officeholder. The outgoing president Herman Van Rompuy - known for being an averagely charismatic consensus builder - did not manage to exercise strong leadership and put the office of the President of the European Council in public spotlight. Nevertheless, Donald Tusk has the chance to redefine it. On the domestic scene he is known for being an exceptionally talented politician. He has smartly maneuvered in Polish politics and worked his way to the top, becoming the undisputed leader of his party, known for being sharp, unassuming and politically ruthless. Leaving aside personal feelings about policy of his government, one has to acknowledge that he is particularly effective in terms of securing and sustaining power. These traits seem like solidly good preconditions for a ground-breaking presidency. Challenges like chronic unemployment, rise of China or unrests in the Ukraine, made European leaders realise that a deeper integration and a more pronounced vision is needed in order for the continent to maintain its position, with the European Council being the very body that has to address this. With his mediating and agenda-setting powers Tusk can be a big part of deciding what the strategy will be, while Jean-Claude Juncker and the Commission will be responsible for turning that into actual legis-
lation. In fact the chemistry between these two will be a crucial component of getting things done for the next two and a half, or perhaps even five years in the EU. There are certain topics in which the views of the two converge, we can expect them to smoothly cooperate on addressing the so called UK question, rewriting terms of British EU membership is fundamental since the Eurosceptic sentiments are flourishing on the Islands. Nonetheless, there is no doubt that Tusk aggressively strives to realise his own ideas. Though, a very close political ally of the so called ‘first among the equals’ Angela Merkel, he is an informal leader of the new member states and will try to relocate the centre of power from the Eurogroup to a more equal multi-speed Europe. In foreign policy we can expect a strong stance towards Russia, nevertheless it will probably balance itself out with the High Representative of the Union Federica Mogherini representing quite the opposite position on that matter. Still he may try to bypass her and strike Russia with his plan to establish an energy union that he has been advocating for during the past few months. There is no question that such a high profile politician like Donald Tusk has ambitious plans, bearing in mind the interest of Poland, all the individual member states and the EU, as a whole, he will have to cautiously make his moves and operate amidst all the heads of governments to build a reasonable consensus and bring things forward. If he succeeds he can transform the Presidency of the European Council by establishing a model for future office holders and bring enormous prestige to his country. If he fails, we will probably just see more of the same. Aaron Graham
TURKEY AS A MEMBER STATE:
IS IT A DREAM?
The ongoing discussions on providing full accession to Turkey in the EU started in 1999 and negotiations in 2005, and today, nine years after starting down the path of the European Union, discussions continue. However, no concrete actions are being taken. Turkey already has a cooperation deal with the EU, which includes Turkey applying the EU‘s foreign tax policy to third world countries, yet has no right of having a say in the law making process, which is not beneficial for Turkey. Some believe that Turkey fulfills all the demanded requirements to become a member in the EU, and some state that Turkey cannot be a permanent member of the EU because of ongoing conflicts, such as the problem with Greece and Cyprus, the violation of Human Rights and its cultural and religious differences.
and other countries, which would be beneficial for the EU. However, one of the requirements that Turkey has to fulfill to gain full accession, is to solve the Cyprus conflict. Turkey and Greece have a long history of wars, have been fighting against each other since 1897, and the conflict exists since 1974. It seems unlikely for Turkey to give up the invasion that they have been fighting for for 40 years, just to enter the EU, which seems to not be what Turks want. Therefore, there is no valid solution to the conflict other than Turkey and Greece agreeing on a certain solution and compromise.
Turkey has a population of 76 million, which would make them the second biggest Member State of the EU, after Germany, and some state that this would make Turkey a dominant power in the EU considering the predictions on Turkey‘s population reaching 91 million by 2050. However, such a possibility does not exist since a Member State can only hold 96 seats in the European Parliament. The second opposition to the full accession due to Turkey‘s population is because of the immigration problem. Some of the Member States are afraid of an increased rate of immigration, and do not want to have Turkish immigrants in their state.
Turkey‘s economy is another perspective on the issue that affects the decision making process. During the first decade of this century, Turkey achieved 7% of growth in finance, which is better than most of the Member States. Even though Turkey has developed and is still developing their economy massively, they have an underdeveloped economy, which would put strains on the EU finances. In addition to the lack of the efficiency in finance, the wealth in Turkey is also not equally spread, which might result in poor Turks immigrating to the Member States with hopes of finding better job opportunities. For example, Istanbul has almost the same amount of billionaires as Moscow, New York, and London. On the bright side, Turkey would change the EU’s economy in a positive way by adding 75 million customers to the market.
Turkey has a unique geographical location, it connects Europe and Asia, which makes Turkey a perfect candidate. Its location would help the EU to open new doors in terms of trade, and would function as a bridge between Europe
However, all the arguements mentioned above are not valid, and the only solid reasons why Turkey should not be given accession is Turkey‘s disagreement with Greece on the Cyprus conflict, lack of democracy and the implemen-
tation of basic Human Rights, and the fact that Turkey is would be the first Muslim country ever to enter the EU. As a Muslim nation, Turkey‘s cultural and religious traditions differ from Christian Europe, and Turkey has always been an outsider in terms of historical interaction with Europe, which can be seen from the disagreement on Cyprus. If Turkey enters the EU, they could be a role model for the Islamic world but on the other hand, that would be encouraging the other Muslim countries to demand accession. However, enlarging the EU means strengthening it, and therefore could be beneficial. Turkey has a serious lack of democracy, which is far away from the European standards. They lack important Human Rights such as freedom of speech and freedom of press. Since the Gezi protests started, which was more than a year ago, 7.478 got harmed and 4 people died because of the usage of pepper gas and water cannons. 150.000 tons of pepper gas and 3.000 tons of poisonous water were used on the protestants in 15 days, just because people were protesting for their country. The Government did not want the protests to spread, and therefore tried to ban every kind of information about the recent incidents, so people started communicating via social media. Another important issue about the lack of freedom of press in Turkey is the block of Twitter and Youtube because of the posts of the vice president‘s voice records that are engaged in abuse of power, fraud and the possible attack on Syria. In a country in which the right of freedom of speech does not exist and the, government and people are getting beaten just because they have a
different opinion, entering the EU should not even be discussed, and therefore it is not possible as long as Turkey still has the same government. Looking at the issue from both perspectives, it can be said that Turkey would benefit from reaching full accession by solving the unemployment problem and modernisation on the European level, whereas the EU would benefit from Turkey‘s growing economy and the cultural variety. However, it is difficult to imagine Turkey as a Member State, and it cannot happen, as long as Turkey has not solved the Human Rights problem.
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Lilpar Özcan
There are many different roles in the EYP; while the delegates are busy passing oranges, journalists try to be a ghost, sneaking around taking snapshots, the chairs and organisers being the busy bees they are, hurrying from one place to another one might ask oneself what the president of the session is doing. In this interview with Christian Macht the President of the 11th NSC of the EYP Poland in Bialystok I tried to tackle this question and give the participants of the session an insight into his presidency. What keeps you going in the EYP? The people are definitely one of the main reasons when it comes to what keeps me active in the EYP; though the belief that there is a bigger purpose in what we are doing is of course also a very important aspect. The EYP allows people to look beyond their national boundaries and simultaneously enables its participants to meet others, who share the same unique experience that the EYP offers. Can you give us an insight into your first ever experience during a session of the EYP? The first time I was a delegate was at the German NSC in 2003. As to how I felt? Well, I was completely clueless and, in hindsight, have no memory of what happened at that session. What are your thoughts on the session so far? Firstly, I am happy that everything is working out well and just as we planned it. All of the teams are doing their best to contribute to the session. I am astonished at how flexible and happy everyone is, which enables a comfortable and happy environment in Bialystok. Today has been a very nice day, Teambuilding kicked off and hopefully the following days will be just as wonderful. Could you give the participants of the session a short piece of advice on how one can use the session to its fullest? Be curious – it is as simple as that, nothing more is required. Dare to step out of your comfort zone because eventually great things can and will happen. Dare to take on responsibility - that is what I am trying to say. What are your biggest fears as a president? With this team? None. Last question and then we are done: how do you ensure the session’s academic quality? To ensure that the session meets the academic standard of a NSC you need to support your chairs team, through in-depth preparation, guidance in Committee Work. In general just make sure their needs are fulfilled then there is absolutely nothing to worry about. Elif Aydinlandi Giedre Kazokaite
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REMEMBER YOUR FIRST TIME AS A DELEGATE, LOOKING BACK - HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?
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WHAT IF ONE OF YOUR CHAIRS DOES NOT MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS?
YOUR REACTION TO BEING OUT OF SCHEDULE?
BRINGING COOKIES TO PEOPLE
“It would make me extremely happy if a big construction company would come to the student dorms and build new showers and accommodation.” – Maciej
“You might not even imagine what can change in their lives through EYP. It can take you to so many places and change you as a person so fundamentally. I cannot really tell you how it will change you but I am pretty sure it will, especially if you delve deeper into the organisation.” - Maciej
The organisers - they are the people behind the scenes of the session, making everything work and coming up with creative solutions if something may not quite go to plan. Without them this session and also no other session would be possible. Even though organising is a very stressful and sleep depriving experience, all the organisers describe it as something extremely rewarding. Being an organiser is surely not an easy task. They work at all times and hardly ever sleep but still Marta describes this sleep deprivation as one of the best parts of being an organiser, “Sleepless nights spent with friends and the love we share for each other, which gets even bigger with every sleepless hour spent together.” Their work involves much more than just running around and serving coffee, although bringing cookies to people and biting tape are two of the things Maciek spends most of his time with. If everybody at the session is filled with lots of food, coffee, apples, and tea he will be extremely happy. When asked what he would like to tell people during their first session, he just smiles and presents his arm with a tattoo saying: the light comes from inside. No matter how much work and dedication this group of people put into this session it would be close to impossible to achieve what they have without proper coordination coming from the Head Organiser of the session, Maciej. Despite the fact that you could easily imagine the responsibility and the workload, which come along with being a Head Organiser, being a burden Maciej actually finds them extremely satisfying and lists them as the best things of being in his position. Surprisingly, Maciej spends most of his time during the session in the supermarket, shopping, and standing outside venues getting things ready. He will be doing his utmost to ensure that everybody at this session is super happy, as the worst scenario he can imagine is that people could regret coming to the session. Anna Barkemeyer
6 THINGS YOU DID NOT KNOW ABOUT
BIAŁYSTOK
As you have finally visited the far-away town in the East that takes eight hours to reach from any given place in Poland, and probably seen some of it, we decided to check what you know and what you do not.
WHAT IS ESPERANTO?
Zamenhof was inspired by the multicultural society that inhabited the town at this time. He wanted to embrace this diversity and foster common understanding. Unfortunately, it did not become as prominent as Zamenhof had hoped. However, one has to mention that still around 300 000 people speak it as a second language, and more than 1000 speak it as their mother tongue! How does this links to Białystok? Esperanto was invented here! (though a Lithuanian delegate claims that it was invented in his hometown. Thanks, Lithuania.)
It sounds like a rock.
WHAT IS KAWELIN?
No, silly! It is not. Esperanto is an artificial language invented by Ludwig Zamenhof in 1887. The main idea was to create a language which one could learn easily, regardless of their mother tongue, and therefore is universal.
It is a food that locals eat. They don’t eat chocolate, they just eat Kawelin; it’s a traditional dance; it’s a sports brand; it’s a fish with 3 eyes and a horn that poops rainbows like nyan cat
We asked you six questions concerning matters linked to the city – and immediately after asking them we knew it would need some clarification.
No, silly! It is not. Kawelin is a dog that has its statue near the entrance to the park and it looks like a carnivorous angry frog. It was named after a guard that worked in Ritz hotel before the war. The sculpture is actually a replica, since the original got lost under mysterious circumstances. And every year the inhabitants of Bialystok celebrate its birthday by literally having a little song and dance about it. Additionally, dogs are visiting Kawelins monument. WHY IS BIAŁYSTOK CALLED BIAŁYSTOK? Well, a direct translation is “white slope”. Following that lead, most of you thought that Białystok was an ancient skiing resort, colombian-like village, or a location with marble mountains. Well, not that silly this time! The name derives from an old Polish expression , where “biały stok” means “a extremely clear river”. It was first used by a Lithuanian prince named Gedymin (thanks Lithuania). The river – called Biała – is not that clear or white anymore, but the name has still stuck – sounding especially cool if you pronounce it with the old-fashioned, eastern “ł”. ARE THERE ANY FAMOUS PEOPLE FROM BIAŁYSTOK? Apparently, the two most famous local people are Andrzej Daniluk and Piotr Cichocki (organisers). While we are not trying to diminish their fame, some slightly more popular folks you knew were Ludwig Zamenhof (you know who this is) and Tomek Frankowski, the football player. But if you really want to dig deep in the roots, it turns out that the singer Kayah and the Polish Brad Pitt – Paweł Małaszyński, singer and actress Izabella Scorupco, the movie director Tomasz Bagiński, and the former president Ryszard Kaczorowski come from Białystok!
WHY ARE PEOPLE FROM BIAŁYSTOK CALLED HERRINGS? Because they stink; because they look like fish; because there is a lot of fishing industry in town No, silly! Białystok is not a harbour town and we have no sea to fish from. It is because our peculiar manner of speaking that sounds as if we were singing, in contrast harsher Southern dialects. It is especially popular among older people, but if you hear some exaggerated vowels and very soft speech – yep, that is probably it. WHAT IS THE FACIAL EXPRESSION OF THE CITY HALL? It’s frightened. I’m frightened because of that; shocked; it looks like an animal; smiling angrily - were some of your guesses. No, silly! The city hall has a very cute, although slightly frog-like, smile. It has even earned itself a facebook fanpage that has more than four thousand likes! Next time you see it smiling from above, just smile back and enjoy your stay in Białystok and take your time to take in the Eastern atmosphere.
Aleksandra Bieluk Zuzanna Gil
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HOW POLISH ARE YOU?
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You do not need a Polish passport or citizenship, because what matters is on the inside. Now you have the opportunity to test how much of a Polish person you really are. Give it a try! Do you have a moustache?
a) Yes, a wide and proud one. b) I’ve been trying to grow one for 5 years, but it is still invisible. c) No, because I am weak. There is free stuff in front of you! How much do you take? a) As much as me, my wife and kids can carry. b) Just a few. c) One. What is your shoe choice? a) Socks with sandals – because it is warm and drafty at the same time. b) Kubota flip flops – because I value the brand. c) Emu – because it is superstylish. How do you pose for pictures? a) I am doing a slavic squat in front of my car. b) I am In my living room with my whole family. c) I am taking a usual selfie. Where do you buy groceries? a) Biedronka or Lidl, where you can find the best discounts. b) Żabka, which is the closest to home. c) Alma, because I am a connoisseur.
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What vegetable could you add to every meal? a) Onion of course, because it just works perfectly with everything. b) Cabbage, it adds the spice to your everyday dinner. c) Beetroot, because it has a fancy colour. How do you carry your stuff ? a) In my reusable plastic bag from Biedronka which I use daily and proudly. b) In a boring leather bag. c) In an eco-friendly, hipster backpack. Now, count your answers. If you got mostly A: Congratulations, you are as Polish as bigos for dinner! It is deep inside of you. Keep this good spirit with you at all times and spread the unique culture everywhere you go. If you got mostly B: You are not entirely Polish yet, but you are getting there! You have to try a bit harder and very soon you will be done with the transformation. If you got mostly C: The sad news is that you are not very Polish and because of that you are missing A LOT! You should try to chill out a bit and get into our amazing culture more. Malgosia Giemza
PHOTO CREDITS From a different Perspective: www.static.businessinsider.com/image/5312480beab8ea9733f0786d/image Donald - the President: www.images.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2014-09/donald-tusk-2/donald-tusk-2-540x304.jpg Turkey as a Member State: http-//www.economywatch.com/files/imagecache/story/story/turkey-eu-hands How to ... Preside a session of the EYP: www.th04.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2013/045/1/5/seamless_floral_ print_25_by_doncabanza-d5u3fux 6 things you did not know about Bialystok: www.upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Branicki_Palace_in_Białystok www.upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Sculpture_of_dog_Kawelin_in_Białystok How Polish are you?: http://www.lesmads.de/old-lmb/blogs/chuhchuh/upload/Adilletten/chuchu_linktipp_addiletten_1.jpg www.static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Environment/Pix/pictures/2008/02/22/plasticbags_276.jpg
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