On March 2 the 1st Forum of Youth Initiatives of Russia and Azerbaijan was held in the Azerbaijani city Gusar. Organizational support for the event was provided by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The program of the forum is aimed at intensifying youth relations between two countries. Its delegates were 100 people – 50 from each side (aged 18-35 years). The large-scale event was attended by MIREA – Russian Technological University (Institute of Youth Policy and International Relations).
The attendees heard messages of the presidents of two countries, Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev. “Your forum brought together talented, energetic representatives of authoritative youth and public organizations, scientists, experts, cultural and educational figures of two countries. Your desire to actively participate in the development of national economies, the humanitarian and social spheres, your readiness for cooperation and business communication are highly demanded,” the Russian leader said in his greeting.
Vladimir Putin noted that the forum brought together talented and energetic youth of two countries is taking place in the year of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Moscow and Baku, and the desire of participants to cooperate in the development of national economies is highly in demand.
The President of Russia is sure that the forum will allow “to establish practical interaction aimed at supporting the social activity of young people, strengthening professional and personal contacts and successfully fulfilling oneself in various fields of activity – in the scientific field, in public administration, volunteering and Internet communications.”
According to the news agency “AZERTAC”, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia, Polad Bulbulogly, said today conditions have been created for closer interaction between young people. “This year marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries. After 25 years, just recently, on February 22 this year the heads of our states signed a very important document, the Declaration on Allied Interaction. Indeed, for relations in the economic, cultural and political spheres, this is the very important document opening up new horizons and opportunities. Now, in the new conditions, on the new platform this interaction becomes very meaningful. Because future belongs to youth which will promote the ideas of friendship, tolerance and interaction,” the source quotes the speaker.
According to the Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia Natalya Bocharova, during creating joint projects “youth not only works on the politics and economics of the future of our countries, but also works to stay in this human and spiritual connection that exists between our countries.”
The Deputy Minister of Education of Azerbaijan Firudin Gurbanov is confident the discussion of youth initiatives at the forum will facilitate the development of optimal solutions to the pressing issues of our time that concern both countries.
The Deputy Head of Rosmolodyozh Andrey Platonov noted the importance of the forum for the exchange of ideas, thoughts, projects, the development of a roadmap for the implementation of joint plans, especially for the formation of a joint volunteer council of Azerbaijan and Russia, for volunteer social activities, training of leaders of public associations and joint business projects.
The program of the 1st Forum of Youth Initiatives of Russia and Azerbaijan included three discussion blocks. Andrey Kushnarev, the Deputy Director of the Russian Society “Knowledge” for special projects, and Diana Vulpe, the Director of the Department of Lecture Work of the organization, presented main activities and major events as well as its regional projects of the Russian Society, spoke about the construction of lecture work in the subjects of the Federation. The Head of the Russian Center for Science and Culture (RCSC) in Baku, Irek Zinnurov, presented key topics of the work of the Rossotrudnichestvo in Azerbaijan. The Director of the Institute of Education under the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Rufat Azizov shared his experience in the development and mass application of innovative content in the country’s schools. The Head of the Department of the Youth Foundation of the Republic of Azerbaijan Seymur Huseynov shared his experience in supporting educational social projects. Specialist of the International Department of the National Youth Council of Russia Valeria Torotenkova made a presentation “Raising awareness of young people and their involvement in the implementation of the UN SDGs on the example of the Program “SDG Youth Ambassadors in Russia”.
The Forum of Youth Initiatives of Russia and Azerbaijan will finish its work on March 3.
