Ukraine has achived significant strides towards establishing its foundations for democracy and civil society but still has a long way to go, reported Ukrainian and global activists attending the Fifth Assembly of World Movement for Democracy (WMD) that was held in Kyiv between April 6 and 9.

Activists admitted this year's slogan, "Making Democracy Work: From Principles to Performance," bears particular significance for the progress Ukraine has made since the Orange Revolution, and the vast work ahead in building up strong foundations. Recent statistics revealed Ukrainians have much work cut out for themselves before they're as free or democratic as their European neighbor countries.

The increasing interest of Ukrainians in politics, largely due to longstanding political rivalries among the country's leaders, has left a void.

"Many people in the world saw the Orange Revolution and they were really inspired by it," proclaimed WMD director Art Kaufman. "They had the intension to come to Ukraine and learn the democratic transition of Ukraine. So, now they can go home and have some sense of the strategy for themselves."

For example, its economy was 50% free in 2007, according to the Washington based Heritage Foundation's 2008 Index of Economic Freedom.

Ukraine is a bit dependent in investment freedom, property rights protection, and freedom from corruption. While the most important democratic values are gradually brewing, experts agreed that Ukrainians have not yet grown enough to act as a support base to implement democratic institutions and uphold institutions.

In the result active participation by the citizens of Ukraine in politics remains low, experts said.

"For me, the main thing is that the system should be open," Kaufman said. "The ability of the people to participate, to have their impact, to explain their own positions, their own points of view, is absolutely essential for democracy."