On November 12, last Saturday, the 18th Assembly of WFDY has concluded its procedures successfully. Throughout 4 days, the 82 member organizations present in the Assembly (together with 2 national friendly and 2 international friendly organizations) have intensively discussed all aspects of the life of the Federation and agreed on all documents, reports and resolutions.

Once again, WFDY underlined its anti-imperialist character, reaffirming the struggle of the youth, together with the workers, in each country, as the only way to overthrow the dominant order that is imperialism.

In its resolutions, WFDY showed great determination by showing that is the capitalist system (now in its upper phase, imperialism) that is the responsible for the inequalities, injustices and wars of the world, and that the present crisis is not just a “bad moment” or the result of a “bad administration of the system”, but that is in fact the only possible result of a system based on exploitation. Capitalism was never, is not, and won’t ever be capable of responding to the needs of mankind as whole, as it is based on the inequality when sharing resources and wealth.

Furthermore, WFDY Assembly expressed its full solidarity with the peoples of Palestine, Western Sahara, Cuba, Burma, and all others, whose fight against imperialism is daily and demands from them courage and determination so that imperialism cannot defeat them, despite the clear advantage of means that imperialism has to fight these peoples.

WFDY 18th Assembly elected the new leadership of the Federation, being the most important elements the election of EDON Cyprus (represented by Dimitris Palmyris) and UJC Cuba (represented by Hanoi Sanchez) as new President and Secretary-General, respectively.

On the sidelines of the Assembly, a substantial part of the delegates had also the possiblity to participate in a demonstration of the workers of the public sector of Portugal, that gathered approximately 180,000 workers against the measures of the Portuguese Government and the EU and IMF that are being imposed on the Portuguese people.

The closing ceremony of the Assembly was held at Voz do Operario in a rally organized by the hosting organization (JCP Portugal) that had the presence of hundreds of Portuguese young people and counted with the presence of Jerónimo de Sousa, Secretary-General of the Portuguese Communist Party.

Below you can find the whole list of the new elected organs of WFDY.

Coordinating Council

EDON Cyprus (President)

UJC Cuba (Secretary General)

ULDY Lebanon (Vice President – in CC/HQ)

OJM Mozambique (Vice President – in CC/HQ)

[one vacant seat for Asia Pacific in CC/HQ]

KISSYL DPRK (Vice President – in the region)

GUPS Palestine (Vice President – in the region)

EYL Ethiopia (Vice President – in the region)

KNE Greece (Vice President – in the region)

UJS Brazil (Vice President – in the region)

The first day of the procedures of the 18th Assembly WFDY was a true success!

The opening ceremony started with the presence of a music band who performed the “Youth Song” (anthem of WFDY), after which took place the opening speeches. Comrades Cátia Lapeiro, member of the secretariat of JCP (the Portuguese Communist Youth), Carlos Moura (member of the leadership of Voz do Operário -

venue of the Assembly) and Miguel Madeira (former president of WFDY, in office until 2008) saluted the delegates and wished the best for the procedures of the Assembly.

To officially open the Assembly on behalf of WFDY, comrade Tiago Vieira, president of the Federation, took the floor, exposing the work done to prepare this assembly and saluting the high level of participation of the members of WFDY coming from all parts of the world.

On the agenda dedicated to the discussion of the report of activities of the last 4 years and the political developments in each country, it was underlined the high level of activity of this term and important achievements, such as the 17th World Festival of Youth and Students, the brigades to Palestine, Western Sahara, Colombia, Egypt and the volunteer brigade to Cuba.

Still on this agenda, 43 organizations took the floor and shared with the Assembly the ongoing developments of the political situation in their countries, confirming and underlining imperialism to be the main enemy of the youth and peoples of the world.

Tomorrow, the regional meetings will take place!

The General Council Meeting prior to WFDY 18th Assembly took place successfully on November 08, in Lisbon (Portugal). This meeting approved all drafts of the political documents that are to be presented to the Assembly from November 09 to 12.