Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary General of ALDA – the European Association for Local Democracy, took part in the official opening ceremony of the Chernivtsi City Day celebrations on 2 October, as part of her visit to Ukraine. She also announced the launch of the process to establish a Local Democracy Agency in Chernivtsi.
“It is a true honor for me to be here today in the wonderful Cernivtsi and in invincible Ukraine to celebrate the city day with you,” – Antonella Valmorbida said, addressing the participants of the celebrations. – I take the floor on behalf of ALDA, the European Association for Local Democracy, and I bring the best wishes to all of you from the Board, the President of ALDA, Natasa Vuckovic, and all the team of my organisation and also our country representative here today with us, Yuryi Stepanets.
We know that it is a difficult task in Ukraine to celebrate but, sometimes, it is important too. The cities are the centre of the resilience and survival of this country, with its people and civil society. All you have the capacity to transform hardship into opportunities, challenges into successes and we all admire you for this.
I often say – and I really mean this – that Ukraine is the most European country in Europe since you are fighting so hard to be part of it. We should all learn from you and take inspiration from it.
ALDA has 350 members all over Europe and 33 of them in Ukraine and Cernivsti is one of them. So I feel at home here.
We are starting a more intense cooperation for project activities and starting a process for opening a Local Democracy Agency here. We hope that we will soon be able to be present with the cities partners and support local governance and citizens participation and to accompany you in the process of accession to the EU.
Certainly you could count on ALDA for the months and years to come.
Once again, congratulations for Your Day which I am delighted to celebrate it with you.