"Young people better than anybody understand how favorable economic integration and expansion of cultural, research, and education spaces are. Young people better understand how to use these huge capabilities to succeed with most ambitious plans," he said.
"Until there is such attitude of our young people towards our cooperation and rapprochement, I am absolutely sure that no chauvinists and nationalists could lure them into their murky asylums," Mr. Putin said.
The festival opened in the village of Sinkivka, Chernihiv Region, Ukraine, on the border between Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. Putin's Ukrainian and Belarussian counterparts Leonid Kuchma and Alexander Lukashenko also attended the opening ceremony.
This forum is dedicated to the Youth Day celebrated on June 27.
Vladimir Putin also said in his speech that the fact that the Russian, Ukrainian and Belarussian peoples had pooled their efforts in fight against the Nazis was one of the underlying factors of victory over Nazi Germany in WWII.
"There were tragic events in the history of WWII, but there also were events we are proud of. Unification of our peoples was the decisive factor of victory over Fascism (more widespread Russian definition for German Nazism - Ed.)," the Russian president emphasized.
"We will remember that; we know that, and we ought to translate that to next generations," he remarked.
Vladimir Putin, Leonid Kuchma and Alexander Lukashenko went to the Friendship Monument on the border between the three countries, each on his country's side. Three girls in Slavic traditional dress met them there and offered them bread-and-salt greeting (handing self-made bread and salt to a guest is a traditional Slavic sign of respect - Ed.).
The orchestra played the anthems of the three countries. While an anthem was being played, balloons of the same colors as the national flag of the country were released into the sky.
The Friendship Monument was erected in 1975 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of victory in WWII. Three white stelas are encircled in a bronze ring. Traditional ornaments and emblems of the three countries are carved on the basement.
The Monument stands on top of a 3-m artificial six-sided hill with steps on each country's side. The area around the Monument is a concrete triangle with smoothed angles and lawns inside.
