#3
BBC Monitoring
Reincarnation of Soviet youth league blessed by Putin,
says Russian TV
Source: NTV, Moscow, in Russian 1300 gmt 29 Oct 01
[Presenter] A new youth movement is holding its first congress in Moscow. The aim of this organization is to oppose the Walking Together organization [as received - contradicts to the report]. It visually reminds of Komsomol [Soviet Young Communist League] congresses of the past.
[Correspondent] Preparations for the first congress of the union of youth organizations took about two years. There have been discussions between the delegates who developed its programmes and drafted the charter.
After careful preparations the date of the first congress was set for 29 October, the birthday of Komsomol.
The official name of the new organization sounds a bit like Komsomol - Soyuzmol. According to the press release, it unites more than 200 public organizations and boasts over 500,000 members.
It was announced that [Russian President] Vladimir Putin supported the idea of the union. By the way, the pro-presidential Walking Together organization has already entered the union.
[Vladimir Zhuravlev, captioned as the chairman of the national association of youth organizations of the youth union, looking like a man in his forties] We support the policy conducted by our dear president, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. By the way, the creation of the union of youth organizations of the Russian Federation is in line with his actions and plans aimed at conducting normal reforms in Russia.
[Correspondent] Soyuzmol is a non-political organization, but it is built according to the hierarchical principle. There are chairpersons, programmes, concepts and slogans. Here is one of the latter: Civic, patriotic and personal responsibility of each member of the union.
Soyuzmol believes its aim is to consolidate young people and to conduct a dialogue with the state.
[Unidentified young activists] I think our young people presently do not fulfil their duties in full - many different duties, for instance their duty to study.
[Zinaida Ivanova, captioned as an honorary guest of the congress, an elderly lady] Our [Komsomol] congresses were more exciting. When I entered the venue, it was lacking the atmosphere of celebration. No music. They could play some Komsomol marches here at least!
[Correspondent] Members of youth organizations of the Union of Right Forces and the Liberal Democratic Party have already joined the non-political Soyuzmol. Yabloko and Unity youth organizations are still thinking.
[Liberal Democratic Party leader] Vladimir Zhirinovskiy came to support the participants of the first congress.
[Zhirinovskiy] The main thing is to avoid monotony, when a senior comrade says something to the youth leader who then tells the members to do this, and they follow like a pack of wolves, one after another. There should be different points of view.
[Correspondent] The first sitting of the first congress lasted for several hours. The first day featured speeches by the members. The young people welcomed all the speeches. The statement that the positive experience of Komsomol should be developed also led to applause.
Soyuzmol's first congress will continue for three days. This night there will be a disco attended by Russian pop stars where all the delegates are invited.
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