Top official praises Azerbaijani-Russian ties at youth forum
Holding the second International Youth Forum "New generation:
endless responsibility" is an important event, Head of Azerbaijani
Presidential Administration's Social and Political Department Ali
Hasanov said at the forum in Baku on Thursday.
"Holding such a forum is a result of the Azerbaijani and Russian
Presidents' political activity," he noted.
Hasanov also underscored that all conditions have been created for
youth in Azerbaijan.
"Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev pays special attention
to the Russian-Azerbaijani relations," Hasanov said. "Russian
President Vladimir Putin's visit to Azerbaijan in 2001 gave a new
impetus to the relations between the two countries."
Hasanov noted that presently, Azerbaijan and Russia have open
relations that are characterized by mutual understanding.
"These relations are developing in political, cultural and many
other fields," he added.
The youth forum opened with a performance of Azerbaijani and
Russian national anthems, after which Azerbaijani Minister of Youth
and Sports Azad Rahimov delivered a speech.
"The purpose of the forum, which is held in Baku for the second
time, is to develop friendship and cooperation among young people
living in the Caucasus, to support the intercultural dialogue, to
increase the responsibility of the younger generation for peaceful
and sustainable development, to resolve the conflicts, to obtain
and share the information," the minister said.
Afterwards, Russian State Duma Chairman Sergei Naryshkin's message
to the forum was read out.
Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vladimir Dorokhin said in his turn
that Azerbaijan and Russia have lived within a single country for
70 years.
"Today these are independent countries," Dorokhin said. "Each of
them has its own geopolitical interests. Russia attaches great
importance to Azerbaijan as a country. The role of middle-aged and
elder people in this case is big. It is a gratifying fact that
young people support these relations. Azerbaijan is Russia's major
ally in resolving the problems in the region."
It is planned to hold panel discussions during the three-day
forum.