Newspaper of Batumi 1st International Forum (Issue 1)

1. SHAMTUMI
Issue 1,
10/08/09
PARTY
UP!
Speaker’s
Corner
Thank you for
smoking

2. Did you know,
that ...
Giorgi Tabagari, the sexiest man among the Georgians, is single? (Come on, girls, try your
luck!)
More than 15 people at this session have studied in Tartu, Estonia?
13 different nationalities are represented at this session?
It rains most of the time?
The local DJ’s only use 10 songs which they repeat over and over again (from crescendo to
sudden decrescendo on the most inappropriate moments)? - Dj Otto, where are you, man?
Anyway, thanks you Ani Nozadze for giving them your CD, unfortunately they kind of stick
to their own music..)
Khatsjapuri is a very delicious Georgian dish?
Tornike Zurabashvili is the Georgian Justin Timberlake? Cry me a river! Or not, we already
have enough water here..
This is already the 20th EYP session for Jindrich ‘Jindra’ Rusin?
Already two loverbirds are breeding their EYP nest here in Batumi?
Some Georgians thought the Opening Ceremony started when we where dancing in the can-
teen, waiting for the buses to take us to Batumi?
You should never try to drink wine against a Georgian?
You have to walk a kilometre into the Black Sea at this camp, in order to get to the deeper
part and be able to swim a bit?
The Armenian delegation left because they found it too crappy here, since they were expect-
ing to stay at a comfortable hotel?

3. The summer youth forum has really
switched the camp into full party-mode. Dif-
ferent folk, hip-hop, house and country songs
from the loudspeakers and unexpected dance
battles now fill the camp area with laughter,
music and fun.
Saturday night’s Eurovillage found us
all enjoying a selection of different dishes
from Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Poland,
etc. Delegates from Moldova and Ukraine
had put on their colourful ethnic outfits which
made the room brighten up even more. Of
course, it soon became clear that there wasn’t On Sunday it appeared that a late morn-
much time to fully see and taste the delicious ing disco was at hand. While waiting for the
food and drinks. Not long after the start of buses to arrive, the music and the pouring rain
our little Eurovillage, the volume was turned pushed us all into the canteen to have a glimpse
to maximum and people took over the whole of spontanious georgian folk dances, and later
dancefloor, showing off their extraordinary on to have a dance-off ourselves - whether it
moves and unbelievable skills. be twirling around to the georgian songs, bus-
tin’ a move to the ever-so-cool „Cotton Eye
Party up, Joe“ or twistin’ it to the max with a partner.
Come to think of it – I’ve never seen such an
Batumi!
Kärt
intense out-of-the-blue party at an EYP event
before. You go, guys!

4. SEDE
Security! Roxi
I’m sure that when you first saw the
committee topics you were dying to be in the
Committee on Security and Defence. The war
in Georgia started exactly one year ago on the
7th of August 2008 and is still a sensitive topic
in our lovely host country. SEDE will have
an extremely difficult task of preparing the
resolution that will cover all the important is-
sues connected with that topic. Fortunately, it
won’t be a problem for them because from the
first moment I saw them, I knew that they were
going to succeed.
This team is lead by a pair of energetic
and smily people: Helena Karnitskaya and
Stefan Feutchtinger, so teambuilding was a
great experience for everyone.Getting to know
this crazy committee started with the Two
Truths and One Lie and, as always during that To begin with, we have to assure all oth-
game, some funny things came out. er delegates that Tsotne is NOT gay. Seriously.
However, he is a person to ask about illegal
HOT/NOT – things I love about you. Or not. things from or at least that’s what he says. It
occurred that this committee is a mix of per-
HOT: Gentlemen bringing drinks to girls or sonalities: Sofo is mad about animals (how can
helping with broken desks. Cute! you have a little zoo in your house?), George
NOT: Raising your voice and being ironic.
likes blondes – so Ukrainians, beware! In con-
How was the committee during the first clusion, it looked like you were having fun
hours of committee work? Just imagine a uni- while playing that game. And that’s what EYP
versity room with a beautiful view of the sea is for.
and a group of people who were so into the dis-
cussion they didn’t even want to go to coffee „I’m a virgin, please help me!“ Data (GE)
break! Our lovely committee is very keen to „Wow, you do look like a professional cow
discuss, I didn’t notice a single person sitting milker!“ about Martin (CZ)
in silence during the debate. Even making the „Imagine there is coffee..“ - coffeesong
rules has never been funnier. This guys take
their agreements very seriously – Vigtor was
close to get punished for his serious face (Rule KEEP IN MIND!
no 4: „Keep smiling“). However, there is one
„but“ - come on, guys, stop being late all the George still has to tell one secret about
time (yes, I’m thinking about you, George and himself - the M&Ms game
Stella!)
You know you love me,
XOXO, Roxi

5. ENVI
The Simpsons Marta
It might as well be a name for the ENVI com- Sunday started way too early for the jour-
mittee since Saturday afternoon. It simply amazed nos, as after a long night they would all have loved
me how they did so well in presenting themselves to get some more sleep! But finally I managed to
as a family in a funny pantomime called „The get to the teambuilding just on time to play the
Simpsons“ for the Committee on Culture. Seemed Drunken Bottle with all the guys. Before, they
as though they had known each other for months! greeted a new delegate (Theo) who had joined
With Tamar as the baby, Marie her mother, Vakho ENVI just that morning. Afterwards they all just
as a dog, Elay as a bus and the rest of the family had fun playing Streetfighter and Giants, Wizards
in front of the TV set (which actually was Lasha!), and Dwarfs.
the CULT members just got convinced that they
were looking at the real Simpson family. Sunday, 16:56
So .. ENVI members could high-five eacho- A new chapter in our committee’s life! At
ther and welcome their first collective success. the moment, I’m just sitting in the corner of the
Then it came time to cross the swamp. The team committee room, trying to stay quiet and invisible
had an apparently easy task to find a safe way and dodgily get to know what’s happening in their
through the dining room swamp, created by the mysterious circle, where they’re just starting to
lovely chairs - Julia and Shamal. Actually they did share their ideas. To tell the truth – they seem so
get stuck at some critical point in the middle of the focused on their task that I’m afraid to make even
floor, but – come on! - it’s nothing for such a clever the slightest move to not blow away their concen-
bunch of EYPers! Giorgi was the pioneer in cross- tration. I’m just smiling to myself as the thought
ing the swamp and others followed him without of their Bunny Game comes to my mind – it was
additional problems. Good job, ENVI! so lovely to see them all kissing eachother on their
And can you imagine, that they started their cheeks, foreheads, noses or even stomachs and el-
first day of the Forum by selling each other on the bows! That just proves how much they love eacho-
Patriot Camp stage? Divided into pairs, they ad- ther!
vertised their partners on sale – and yes, they’re all While expressing fears and hopes for the
sold out! At first, the adverts sounded so endearing session, we heard a surprising fear from Con, who
and lasted for quite some time, but when the orgas said: „I have a fear of making new friends here..“
announced lunch, they suddenly went shorter and In a second, everyone answered: „Come on, you’ve
shorter.. We all definitely needed to get some food. already met us!“

6. Officials on the road to
batumi
Who wouldn’t get tired on
such a bustrip?
It appears as though the chairs
do really love to sleep...
.. and after a decent
amount of sleep, we
stopped in Gori to cele-
brate a special moment.
Happy Birthday,
Kristina!

7. Moments from the session
in full party-mode ---
Eurovillage!
Opening Ceremony -
Mariko
Sharing the love ...
makes you happy,
doesn’t it?

8. FUTURE
go, team future! Kärt
The first assignment you had was to find The day brought trust games and the
a small object from the beach that would de- endless torture of trying to walk while be-
scribe you at the session. After a brief search ing tied together like – sorry for the blunt
on the shore you all found one thing that you ex pression – slaves. It seemed to be diffi-
thought most resembled you. You explained cult to start with, but in the end you started
how you saw yourselves at this session and to cooperate and move faster and faster.
listened to others talking about their person- Great success!
alities. I have to say, you brought some pretty I have to say, that most of the per-
brilliant examples! sonality examples you brought on the first
However, you weren’t quite as success- day match with the people I see in front of
ful in playing the Human knot – we started me right now, in our futuristic committee
the game for a number of times, sadly without room. Some of you quiet, some not, some
a good end result. Afterwards, you competed of you energetic, some more laid back. I
against Public Health in the Lava Game and believe the future has great things in store
you won with flying colours! I was very proud for you, Team Future. But first, let us wait
of your warrior mentality. But the best part of and see what happens during the next few
the day was - without a doubt – the drawing days.. ;)
assignment. I was happy to see that you took
initiative and were even more creative than I Yours truly,
would have thought. The portraits came out Kärt
great – it seems that you have a bit of an art
genius in each and every one of you! :) “If you want me standing here topless,
Sunday morning started with you find- just say it.” (Tornike to Future)
ing your partners by making animal sounds
and you were quick to pair up.

9. ENERGY
committee on energy Sandro
First, let me introduce my commit-
tee members. I will begin with the chairs,
who both are extremely energetic and ad-
venturous.
Katerina Kondrunina or simply
Katya, has finally reached Georgia! Katya
was forced to cancel her flight to Georgia
to attend the Gori session last year, but now
she is proud to be the VP of Batumi and, of
course, the lovely chair of the Committee
on Energy.
Furkan Taşel also seeks for adven-
tures. To attend this session he used an in-
ternal flight to Trabzon, his relatives’ car
to the Georgian border, advice of a Turk-
ish restaurant worker and taxi to the camp
.. Thanks Furkan, you are one of the best
Turkish people. At least among applicants
for Batumi2009 (some of you know what
I mean). Smiles could have been used on a
number of times, but I just decided to put
only one in the end :)
To get to know the delegates, just fill in the blanks - Guess the Celebrity!
KATERINA KONDRUNINA just discovered she’s Georgian dictator ruling 1/6th of the
world: _ _ _ _ _ _ .
FURKAN TASEL is not blonde, not a model, just pretty: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
TEYANA KOLYAKA is a Russian football player, but he doesn’t even know himself:
________.
HAKIM ALASGAROV: is the founder of president: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _’s fan club in
Azerbaijan.
MIKHEIL BENIDZE is not sure if _ _ _ _ _ is human and still alive, but he’s not Ameri-
can for sure.
IA MELKADZE raps and just released a new album after a short break: _ _ _ _ _ _ .
SOPO DVALISHVILI thinks about a singer despite of his death: _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_______
IRAKLI GIORBELIDZE’s part-time job is a look-a-like for former president and current
PM _ _ _ _ _ .
KRISTINA MARGELASHVILI thinks that “_ _ _ _ _ magaria” (“_ _ _ _ _ is cool”)
ANA KURDGELASHVILI is a friend of previous person, but he’s not from US or Rus-
sia, and probably from Europe: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
And finally - don’t know why - but SANDRO JUPALAKIANI is an EYPer with rich ex-
perience, Dr. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

10. LIBE
Civil Liberties
Fred
The teambuilding took place on the The first day of committee work went
footballfield, which was less swampy than pretty well. After finally having discussed
anyone could’ve expected. Like every team, what the topic is actually about, the team fi-
they played name games in the beginning. nally started brainstorming and discussing.
Apparently, the chairs really hammered on A sadistic Rufat Saradi thought that maybe a
the fact that the names should be known as
capital punishment for juvenile delinquency
your trousers’ pocket, because 7 (seven!)
should be introduced, which was immediately
name games were played. There was also a
game with M&M candies – everyone had
rejected by a critical Eka Rostomashvili,who
to tell a story according to the colour of the seems to have a clear opinion and is proud
M&M. Nazal Tunal told us he once had gone of her social skills. Teona Kontridze is a sur-
out and woken up the next morning with a prising girl: she is a very tiny girl, but has a
broken shoulder, without remembering any- lot of great ideas.
thing. Good job! Most of the icebreaking Because of the humidity, warmth and
games were alright for most of the people, but lack of sleep, Nino Chanturia was sitting and
the chicken game, where they had to imitate following the debate with closed eyes, ta-
chicken sounds, seemed to be a bit over the kin her friend Tamaz Chachkhunashvili into
top, although one could think there was a real her daydreams. But Ani Nozadze woke her
chicken running around the field when Nadia fellow Georgian colleagues up with her en-
Vames pronounced her version of this nutri-
ergetic voice and sharp ideas. And don’t try
cious animal.
to say anything wrong to Nana Kalandarish-
I’m not exaggerating if I mention that
the team is rather slow. In the beginning it
vili, she’s a girl with balls and organisational
took on Jindra’s nerves that everyone was skills, putting the post-it notes together with
always late to the appointments, but after a the different reflections of the committee
while he got used to the fact that he had to members.
wait a bit. And even if they’re slow, they’re What to do with a young person who cuts
still a good, enthusiastic team with diverse your throat in the middle of the street? We
people. will soon find out ..

11. AFET
Show me your AFET delegates,
delegates! Roxi
Are you looking for hot discussions, The test for the whole AFET commit-
people who are really into the things they tee was of course the committee work. Even
are currently thinking through? If these when they didn’t agree, they always found
answers are YES, then you should already the way to start listening to each other more
start waiting for this one. Let me introduce carefully. How to make them do embarrassing
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, which and silly things? Just let them play „Honey,
will deal with the topic concerning eastern tell me that you love me“. That’s also the way
policy of the European Union. to spot the people on their knees in front of
AFET started the teambuilding... on other delegates or to notice a big EYP crime
the beach. It was a perfect place to get to – breaking the Golden Rule. You’ll definitely
know each other better and they proved find out what I mean by that while watching
that. The committee, chaired by lovely Olga the videos from Facebook ;)
Petrova and Giorgi Tabagari didn’t have HOT/NOT – things I love about you. Or not.
any problems with the tasks and games. The
only thing that seemed to cause them some HOT: discussion. The cure for the cold nights
difficulties was .. spider-web. But come on, Kvavilnari camp cottages. I’m impressed.
guys, we all tried that and failed a million NOT: using mobile phones during commit-
times. tee work. Bad, bad girls! ;)
Fail of the day:
Being punished for speaking Georgian three times during three minutes. Congrats, George.
You are officially my hero.

12. PUBLIC HEALTH
Thank you for smoking
Dima
Hard to believe, but true: this ele- There’s no use in boasting, but we’re
gant, fashionable, splendid habit is in fact actually well-equipped against smoking.
a bloodthirsty monster. Half a million Eight young Georgians (Kate, Tamaz, Nino,
deaths only in the EU, more than a mil- Mari, Beka, Natia, Ana and Tata), repre-
lion deaths in Europe as a whole – these sentatives of a traditionally wholesome and
are the numbers of its yearly appetite. life-loving nation, enhanced by Portugese
Production. Packaging. Advertis- and Azerbaijani input (Diogo and Rashad
ing. Sales. Taxation. These are just some respectively) and lead by Kristina, the very
of the fields where endless wars between embodiment of Ukrainian health, make a
the common sense of law-makers and the perfect mixture to fight any harmful habit,
greed of tobacco corporations have been no matter how deep it has penetrated into the
waged for years. culture or how cool it may seem to some.
At the same time, those already in- Predictions are a difficult thing to make, but
fected by the nicotine plague insist on the from what is visible right now, one may con-
right to destroy their own health to their clude the guys will suggest buttspelling as a
heart’s content (hence the endless debate substantial part of the new EU’s anti-smok-
on smoking in public places). A balanced ing policy: some delegates have just discov-
and thought-out policy in this realm isn’t ered this ambiguous exercise and seem to
less important than fresh air (the first be- enjoy it.
ing in fact a precondition for the latter). To cut a long story short, we need to
All the necessary decisions are about to be thankful to smokers. No, seriously. If it
show up – not in decades, but in less than wasn’t for smoking, we wouldn’t have such
two days – namely at the Batumi Sum- a tricky, complicated and urgent topic to be
mer Forum’s General Assembly. debating on.

13. Speaker's Corner
Few words to the audience – read carefully*
Guys! Truly: aren’t you glad to be here in Ba-
tumi, on the amazing Black Sea shore? Isn’t it
a pleasure to enjoy the nature and peace (well,
peace rules everywhere, except for the canteen
with its music, right?) I’ll tell you: IT IS, or at
least it can be if you just have a bit of positive
attitude. It is so much thanks to the Organisers
that we have a chance to be here in the first
place. My message to you is simple: please
stop complaining. Yeah, I know you weer ex-
pecting to live in a hotel in Batumi. I really do
understand you would like to pee in a toilet
WITH doors or shower in warm water. Every-
body would. Just appreciate the fact that, in
spite of having their funds cut, the Orga Team
still managed to make this event happen. And
that’s really something! Keep an open mind, a
smile on your face and have fun!
*addressed to only some participants of course,
not all of you, sweeties!

14. CULT
Clash of civilizations
Fred
Traditions are getting lost in the 21st The group is very enthusiastic,
century, due to the globalization. With the in- even if they mainly consist of native
troduction of the internet and the fall of the Georgians. This results from time to time
Soviet Union, a new era has arrived in which in some language change, but the chair
cultures and traditions are acceptable to be is alert enough to point the committee
jeopardized. Is globalization affecting the members to go back into English.
one culture more than the other? What are the The most funny team building
real side-effects of globalization and should game was kind of pointless, but very nice
we try to put a break on this or is it already to do. We had to make each other laugh
to late? Should political parties take respon- by the words “Honey, tell me that you
sibility to conserve the customs, habits and love me”, and the person who is laughed
traditions of their nation? Where is the bal- to should stay serious, answering with “I
ance between liking products and habits from love you, but I just can’t smile”. Alright,
other cultures and letting them make part of if faces from Mariam Abuladze, Oto
the own culture? These and a lot of other Kakhidze and Amiran Makaridze are in-
questions will occupy this committee of Cul- cluded, you start actually laughing before
ture and Education during the EYP Forum in they actually start saying anything.
Batumi. About the committee work: the
Dima is the master of teambuilding. group is very close and has good ideas.
He has the gift to move people, even early in First there was the usual brainstorming
the morning, to do a lot of energetic games, session, where the members had to bring
such as the committee using only one finger issues involved with the topic. Since cul-
to lift a committee member in the air, dancing tural globalization is a very large topic
the crazy banana or Zulu, etc. He can bring to work on, some restrictions should be
his committee to be on time and really work made in advance.
something out (be warned if you are not ac-
tive or on time).

15. Starting with questions like ‘What do
Integration, exchanging expericence,
we understand under culture?’ and ‘Can we
protecting your past, changeable forms
protect our cultural traditions?’ where good
and unchangeable ideas, immigration,
prerequisites to start with, so that the mem-
national identity, education in the native
bers could use their opinions and creativ-
language... it are only a few terms given
ity on this topic. Fun was involved for sure.
by the members after an intense reflec-
The committee had to figure something out
tion, where everybody is treated equally.
to make a good advertisement to promote
And be careful of saying something that
an enterprise making only left shoes. They
is diminuishing the value of another cul-
created a little theater play with Chroestjov
ture, because girls like Mariam Zura-
slapping with his shoe on the parliament
bashvili, Nino Sioridze and Mariam
desk, asking for silence and the journalist
Chubabria will serve you with some hard
who throwed a shoe at G.W. Bush. It is im-
defensive words!
possible not to laugh here. Even Dima, who
Hopefully there will be enough
really manages to stay a strict and serious
space to bring some counterarguments
chairs, could barely hold his laughter.
to the statements of Huntington with his
Fariz Jafarov is a rhetorical man who
Clash of civilizations. Longing to see the
has very profound opinions on the topic
resolution on how to protect the cultural
and gave us some interesting perspectives.
traditions for youngster in a globalizing
Shahriyar Haciyev and Davit Sichinava are
world!
more the observers, but if they say some-
thing, it is founded.
© Frederik Declercq