Azernews.Az

By Laman Ismayilova

The role of youth in the fight against terrorism, extremism and radicalism conference kicked off in Baku on March 3.

The conference is co-organized by the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Youth Fund under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth and Sport, and State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, Azertac reported.

Participants in the event included senior officials of the Department of Public and Political Affairs of the Presidential Administration, Parliament, State Security Service, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth and Sport, State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President, State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, Youth Fund under the President, as well as representatives of youth organizations, NGOs, political scientists and experts, “ASAN Xidmet” employees.

Moderator of the event, department head at Baku State University Kamil Salimov said increasing youth`s awareness is one of the key priorities in the Azerbaijani government’s security and law-enforcement policy.

“President Ilham Aliyev attaches great importance to patriotic upbringing of young generation and to increasing youth`s role in the protection of the country`s independence and strengthening security,” he added.

Azerbaijan is making its contribution to the fight against terrorism, said Head of the Azerbaijan’s State Security Service Lieutenant-General Madat Guliyev.

Guliyev said that Azerbaijan joined the anti-terrorism coalition without any hesitation. Azerbaijan joined the international anti-terrorism coalition in 2001 and is an active participant. Azerbaijani servicemen also participated in peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The US highly appreciates Azerbaijan’s participation in the fight against terrorism and high professionalism of Azerbaijani peacekeepers in Afghanistan.

The fight against terrorism, extremism and radicalism, which seriously threaten the security in the world, is very important for Azerbaijan, Guliyev noted.

“The processes, taking place in recent times in several countries of Central Asia and Middle East that are located close to Azerbaijan, put the world in front of dangerous threats, including terrorism, extremism and other dangerous threats,” he said.

Vugar Aliyev, the deputy head of the Public and Political Issues Department of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, in his turn, said Azerbaijan’s development, as well as stability and security in the country are highly valued all over the world.

Aliyev noted that the main factor ensuring stability and security in Azerbaijan is connected with President Ilham Aliyev’s purposeful policy based on national interests.

“Another equally important factor is the Azerbaijani people’s support for this policy and acceptance of this policy by the world community,” according to him.

Further in his speech, Aliyev noted that some forces in the world use the youth to achieve their criminal purposes and, in some cases, succeed.

“In 1992, young people in Azerbaijan, having been divided into separate political groups, joined the fight for power. And only after national leader Heydar Aliyev’s return to power, foundation of a well thought-out youth policy was laid and its conceptual basis was created,” Aliyev said.

He added that today, Azerbaijan pays great attention to the youth – a Youth Fund was created and state programs on youth development are being implemented.

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