\n The first international conference of the post-revolutionary era opened in Kyiv. It is dedicated to the European and Euro-Atlantic prospects of the Ukrainian state led by President Viktor Yushchenko. \n Members of the European Parliament and representatives of the political and academic elite of the Visegrad Four and the Baltic countries are taking part in the conference. A speech by the leader of Russia's democratic forces, Boris Nemtsov, is also expected. \n Journalists from 43 media outlets have been accredited. \n The conference was organized by the Institute of Euro-Atlantic Cooperation (Kyiv) and the Center for International Relations (Warsaw). \n The initiator of the conference, member of the Committee of National Salvation of Ukraine Borys TARASIUK, responsible for foreign policy relations, said on the eve: \n - Over the course of a year I made 90 trips across Ukraine, European countries and the world. And in the era of the Orange Revolution, for the first time in a long while, I was filled with a sense of pride in my country, in my people. Thanks to the revolution, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on Ukraine by an unprecedented majority of 467 votes. Consequently, our state has received a chance for a Euro-Atlantic breakthrough. Already in 2005 we may witness Ukraine's accession to the WTO, the acquisition of market economy country status, and the intensification of relations with the EU and NATO. \n Borys Tarasiuk believes that from the standpoint of political activity and political culture, Ukraine lays claim to playing first fiddle in Europe. \n Yesterday, during the ceremonial opening of the conference, B. Tarasiuk noted that this is the first international conference after the official proclamation of Viktor Yushchenko as President of Ukraine. \n Today Borys Tarasiuk emphasized the particular importance of taking into account the experience of the V-4 and Baltic countries in their consistent advancement toward NATO and the EU. \n First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Oleksandr MOTSYK stated that Ukraine has demonstrated its European potential, and therefore Brussels must change its attitude toward our state. \n People's Deputy Oleh ZARUBINSKYI continued the theme raised, as he put it, by the "Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine." The main idea of his speech is the practical implementation of the philosophy of the Baltic-Black Sea Arc. \n - Instead, Eurasian projects, the SES, are doomed to failure as non-viable entities, - O. Zarubinskyi is convinced. \n The theme was continued by member of the Board of Programs of the Center for International Relations Zdzislaw NAJDER. He believes that Ukraine must increasingly strengthen its image as an organic European state. Ukraine is showing clear prospects within a united Europe. \n The discussion continues. \n \n