Keeping Finger on the Pulse: Youth of the Caspian Region is ready for Joint International Projects

15/03/2021 12:22

On March 5, Astrakhan hosted one of the key events in the youth policy of the Caspian countries this year - the round table “International youth cooperation as an integral part of the effective interaction of the Caspian states”.

The meeting was organized by the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly information partner, the Center for International and Socio-Political Research “Caspian Eurasia” and the Association of Youth Governments of the Russian Federation supported by the Government of the Astrakhan Region. The high level of the event was confirmed by the participation of the consuls of the Caspian countries, the Head of Rossotrudnichestvo Yevgeny PRIMAKOV, the Governor of the Astrakhan region Igor BABUSHKIN, the Head of the Agency for Youth Affairs of the Astrakhan region Yegor UAROV, the public representative of the Agency for strategic initiatives in Astrakhan Alexander SOLOVYOV. Representatives of the largest youth movements and organizations of the Caspian countries - the Russian Union of Youth, the youth movement of the Republic of Kazakhstan ”Zhas Otan”, the Association of Russian Youth of Azerbaijan under the Russian community of Azerbaijan, the Moscow Association of Iranian Students, the youth organization of Turkmenistan named after Makhtumkuli Fargi, and the faculty of Gilan University from the Republic of Iran.

“Caspian countries have long and closely cooperated in many areas, from the economy to the humanitarian sphere. In addition, our region is actively involved in this. I am pleased that the participants in our roundtable meeting are proactive and enterprising young people from different countries. We, the older generation, would like to find effective forms of interaction with you,” - said the Governor of the Astrakhan Region Igor BABUSHKIN at the meeting.

The head of the region emphasized that large international projects such as the creation of a port SEZ are, the Caspian Media Forum, academic exchange between students, reviving cruise tourism, and plans to create a Project Office of the Caspian countries actively develop in the Astrakhan region. Its main goal is to help establish active interaction between Russian youth and the youth of the Caspian countries.

The event’s guest of honor, the Head of Rossotrudnichestvo Yevgeny PRIMAKOV, called the Caspian a unique region. “It has no conflict potential, no disagreement; it has a common desire to develop. The key to the development of this region is in cooperation, collaboration, joint projects between countries. This is wonderful and important; therefore, the country looks with great optimism at the region and the Astrakhan region, realizing that this is a story of growth. For Rossotrudnichestvo the youth direction is one of the key ones,” - said Primakov, inviting young people to participate in the Agency's projects, namely, cooperation with non-governmental organizations in the Caspian countries.

The consuls of the Caspian countries also expressed their readiness to maintain relations in youth policy. Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mehdi AKUCHAIKIAN stressed that youth movements play an irreplaceable role in the development of the Caspian macro-region, and Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Astrakhan Tauboldy UMBETBAEV expressed interest in cooperation in youth policy, as well as in the information and tourism spheres.

“The Consulate General is always ready to provide support in all areas,” - said Mr. Umbetbaev. The Consul of Turkmenistan in Astrakhan Guich GARAYEV thanked the organizers; he noted that the government of Turkmenistan pays close attention to youth and international cooperation. The head of the executive power of the Narimanov region of Baku, Abdin Alesker oglu FARZALIEV, said about close ties both in bilateral and multilateral formats with the Caspian countries.

In addition to diplomatic speeches during the roundtable meeting, the participants were able to discuss real youth projects and initiatives. Thus, Adelina ABDRAKHMANOVA, Head of the Caspian States Department for International Cooperation and Foreign Economic Relations of the Association of Youth Governments of the Russian Federation, presented to partners the School of Youth Diplomacy. It is a project for young people to learn building relationships with international partners and develop their activities at a higher international level thanks to experts and experienced professionals. The head of the “Caspian Eurasia” Center Ksenia TYURENKOVA told the meeting participants about two upcoming events - the Summer Caspian Media School - 2021 (a project of the Presidential Grants Foundation, designed for intensive training of young journalists. Teachers are experts from Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, and the co-executor of the project is the Astrakhan 24 TV channel) and the Forum of Eco-Activists, which will be held on the sidelines of the VI Caspian Media Forum.

“Let's keep our finger on the pulse and stay in touch. Together we can do much more,” - said Ksenia TYURENKOVA.

As a result of the round table, the participants have enlisted the support of state authorities and consuls in the development of their projects, and also exchanged contacts for further cooperation.