On August 29-30, near border marker 835 in the villages of Krechiv and Novovolynsk (Volyn region) – Kryliv (Lublin Voivodeship), the sixth European Days of Good Neighbourhood took place. This year they were held for the first time on Ukraine's western border, which runs along the Buh River. A bridge was specially constructed for this event, serving as a temporary border crossing point for participants and guests of the celebration. The bridge connecting the two banks of the Buh was built by military personnel from Dęblin (Poland). As part of the European Days of Good Neighbourhood, a series of events took place: a Cross-Border Cooperation Forum, an Ecumenical Prayer, performances by Polish and Ukrainian creative ensembles, exhibitions and presentations by organizations, a crafts fair, master classes, a festival of physical culture and sports, a football match, knight tournaments, a Cross-Border Fair, and integration events for children and youth. During the Cross-Border Cooperation Forum, participants (about 200 representatives of public organizations, entrepreneurs, local self-government bodies, state authorities, and international institutions) discussed the current state, difficulties, and prospects for the development of cross-border cooperation, and shared experience in implementing successful cross-border projects. Particular attention was paid to the implementation of the Eastern Partnership initiative in Ukraine, as well as to the importance of creating new border crossing points and simplifying the visa regime for Ukrainians. The Cross-Border Cooperation Forum was attended by Dirk Schuebel, Acting Head of the Delegation of the European Commission in Ukraine, Christian Camill, Deputy Head of the Swedish Mission in Ukraine, ambassadors of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, representatives of the European Parliament (Paweł Kowal), delegations from the Lublin Voivodeship (voivode and marshal), Volyn region (deputy head of the Volyn Oblast State Administration and the Volyn Oblast Council, delegations from the cities of Lutsk, Novovolynsk, Volodymyr-Volynskyi, Shatsk, and others), Lviv region (Lev Zakharchyshyn, Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Lviv Oblast State Administration), representatives of the diplomatic corps (Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Lviv Grzegorz Opaliński, Consul General of Ukraine in Lublin Oleh Horbenko, Consul of the Republic of Poland in Lutsk Andrzej Kucharczuk, Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine Bohdan Pankevych), representatives of international foundations that supported the initiative to hold the Days of Good Neighbourhood (the Renaissance Foundation and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation). At the conclusion of the Forum, the Kyryliv Declaration on Good Neighbourhood was signed, which encourages "joining efforts for the development of Ukrainian-Polish cooperation, for the building of an open civil society on both sides of the border." After lunch, an Ecumenical Prayer was held with the participation of hierarchs and clergy (Greek Catholics, Roman Catholics, and Orthodox) for the intention of unity, cleansing of memory from a painful past, for the development of mutual understanding, good neighbourliness, unity, harmony, and well-being. On Kryliv Island, an obelisk was installed with the message of Pope John Paul II: "Barriers and distrust must be overcome in order to jointly build a harmonious and peaceful future." The place where the obelisk was installed is located halfway between Pavlivka (formerly Porytsk) in Ukraine and Sahryn in Poland, where more than half a century ago Poles and Ukrainians who died in confrontation were laid to rest. At the end of the prayer, a solemn ceremony was held to present the statuette of the Chapter of Polish-Ukrainian Unity, which represents two flowers — a poppy and a cornflower — to two historians of the younger generation: Grzegorz Motyka and Ihor Illiushyn. The culmination of the European Days of Good Neighbourhood programme was the concert "Border 835." On the stage located directly at the border, the following performed: Druha Rika, Oratania, Aut Kray, Zbih Obstavyn, and Ikebana. During the concert, as part of a land art installation — art on the ground — a specially prepared installation by Yaroslav Kozyara was lit on the Buh River. At the end, a festive fireworks display took place in the sky above the Buh and the border. "Through cross-border events, communication and cooperation among a large number of various institutions (local authorities, entrepreneurs, public organizations, media, border and customs services, law enforcement agencies, etc.) are activated, and opportunities are created for the development of interpersonal contacts and the building of long-term partnerships. We hope that the model of holding the Days of Good Neighbourhood will be adopted by local communities on both sides of the borders. After all, where exactly the European Days of Good Neighbourhood will take place in 2010 depends to a large extent on where there is the desire, faith, and openness to the practical implementation of a joint initiative," — Olena Yaremko, organizing committee. Presidents of Poland and Ukraine sent greeting letters to the participants of the European Days of Good Neighbourhood at Border 835. Lech Kaczyński wished that "the border between our peoples may never divide us again, but may unite us ever more strongly." Viktor Yushchenko, in turn, expressed his conviction that the European Days of Good Neighbourhood are "an opportunity for better mutual understanding and the strengthening of partnership contacts between Ukraine and Poland." A greeting letter was also received from the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on European Integration. Borys Tarasyuk noted that "it is precisely such events that open Ukraine to a united Europe, and a united Europe to Ukraine. They build bridges between peoples, make us closer and more understandable to one another, help overcome stereotypes and prejudices, and foster respect for each other's culture, language, and traditions." According to border service data, on August 29, more than five thousand people crossed the border at Krechiv-Kryliv at Border 835. In total, about 8,000 Poles and Ukrainians became participants in this year's Days of Good Neighbourhood. Over the last week of August, the webpage www.kordony.net was visited by 5,093 Internet users from 26 countries around the world. One hundred media representatives from Poland and Ukraine were accredited at the event. The organizers of the event are the International Public Organization "Academy of Ukrainian Youth" (Lviv) together with the Foundation of Spiritual Culture of the Borderland (Lublin), in cooperation with the Volyn Oblast Youth Public Organization "Association of Young Reformers (AMoRe)," the Volyn Oblast Organization "National Alliance" (Lutsk), and with the assistance of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the State Border Guard and Customs Services, the Volyn and Lviv Oblast State Administrations, the Lublin Marshal's Administration, the Lublin Voivodeship, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Poland, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Ukraine, the Polish Institute in Kyiv, the Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Lutsk, the Consulate of Ukraine in Lublin, the Novovolynsk City Council, the Ivanychi District State Administration, the Lviv City Council, the Lutsk City Council, the Hrubieszów County, the Mirche Commune, and a number of partner organizations and institutions (Center for International Humanitarian and Educational Programs "Nasha Sprava," the Chapter of the Award of Polish-Ukrainian Unity, the Volyn Oblast Youth Public Organization "Center for Effective Communication," the International Public Organization "Perspektyva," the Volyn Institute named after V. Lypynsky of the Interregional Academy of Personnel Management, the National Scout Organization of Ukraine "Plast," the Public Organization "Women of the Fatherland," the Greek Catholic parish in Novovolynsk, the Volyn Oblast Youth Public Organization "Spalakh-ART," the Volyn Oblast Excursion and Methodological Center, the Public Organization "Volyn Perspectives"). The sponsors of the festival were the beverage "Sokovynka," "Rud" ice cream, and the insurance company "PZU Ukraine." The European Days of Good Neighbourhood are held with the financial support of the European Programme of the International Renaissance Foundation and the Representation of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Ukraine. Through art, culture, common prayer, a cross-border fair, and youth meetings, we strive to contribute to the creation of Ukraine's European future, the practical implementation of the idea of good neighbourliness, the development of Ukrainian-Polish cooperation and European integration, which are especially important in the border region and in the context of preparations for Euro 2012.