The 6^th Forum  of the Azerbaijani Youth Organization of Russia (AYOR) took place at the International Trade Centre in Moscow, on the topic of “AYOR: for the sake of worthy future for the youth”, October 31. 

Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, AYOR’s chairperson Leyla Aliyeva participated in the Forum’s activity.  

A photo-exhibition devoted to AYOR and IDEA’s (International Dialogue for Environmental Action) activities is opened in the foyer, and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation presented its publications and national garments   related to the 19^th and 20^th centuries. 

Leyla Aliyeva shared her opinion of the Forum with Russian correspondents:  “I’ve always  been greatly pleased with being in Russia... Many Azerbaijanis, including young Azerbaijanis, live in Russia.  The objective of holding this conference is to unite these young people and help them integrate into the Russian society”.

Leyla Aliyeva said issues concerning education and environment would be discussed at the Forum: “Environment is very important for us. I know that Russia too, as our own country, has been paying special attention to protection of the environment. We want to have broader cooperation with Russia in this sphere. Moreover, subjects of culture and sports, in one word, all issues that the youth is concerned of will be touched upon at the Forum.”

First, a documentary about AYOR’s activities was shown. 

Leyla Aliyeva addressed the Forum:

- I am delighted to see our friends, active participants of AYOR. It has been already 8 years that we have been working together with these people and travelled a long and interesting  path. 

It is also very pleasing to see those who have come from regions to our event. Of course, I’m pleased to welcome those who have just joined our organization. I wish you every success, and I’m sure very interesting jobs are waiting for us in the future. 

Our organization was founded in Russia and has been realizing the idea of international dialogue and cooperation since the very beginning of its activity. AYOR has been uniting Azerbaijani youth studying and working in Russia and supporting them in their integration into the Russian society and worthy representation of their country. 

Azerbaijan is located at the crossroads of civilizations and cultures, between the East and the West. This has been reflected in our history and culture. Traditions of tolerance inherent in our people has deep roots. This is every Azerbaijani’s lifestyle. Azerbaijan has become an arena where, today, international tournaments, forums and events are held. In June this year, the first European Games took place in Baku on the highest level. I would like to sincerely congratulate Russians on the great results they achieved at these games.  In autumn, Baku hosted the World Cup for chess, and, in 2016, Baku will host the Chess Olympiad. Formula-1 competitions will be held next year in Baku.   And in 2017, holding of the 4^th Islamic Solidarity Games is planned. All these are the proof of the confidence and respect  the world has shown towards us. 

Sincere friendship relations have always existed between Russia and Azerbaijan. We have common history, victories and achievements. Representatives of different religions, nations and peoples have been living in our countries. They managed to live in the conditions of peace, solidarity and mutual respect. Azerbaijanis have always treated great Russian culture, Russian literature and art with great love. Since our country regained its state independence, education in Russian has been maintained in full volume. Education in Azerbaijan’s higher schools are conducted both in the Azerbaijani and Russian languages. The Slavic University is operating in Baku, and a branch of the M.V.Lomonosov Moscow State University is opened. And this year, a branch of the I.M.Sechenov Moscow First State Medical University was opened. Now, physicians of both the countries has gained a chance to join their efforts and have exchange of experiences. 

In December last year,  jubilee of great Russian poet Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov was celebrated in Baku on a high level. His creativity is a brilliant model of mutual influence and enrichment of cultures. AYOR’s activists too is a proof of our relations’ being close. Our youth have always tried to find common traits that link us with Russia, and preserve and augment them.   

Today, over 70 regional divisions of our organization is functioning on the Russian territory, and each of them have a right to be proud. Our organization’s circle of activity covers such different areas as healthcare, education and science, culture and environment. Every year, AYOR holds a charitable action devoted to the International Day of Protection of Children. Our young people pay visits to children’s homes and boarding schools, and arrange festivities for children deprived of parental care. This year, we held a free blood-donation action under the slogan of “Blood has no nationality”. Together with the World Health Organization, free-of-charge examination of women were organized within the programme of combatting breast cancer. Our activists arranged events and meetings for veterans of the World War 2^nd in Moscow, Kursk and Tula  to mark the 70^th anniversary of the Victory over fascism. 

Our organization believes in justice, peace and solidarity. Each year, in February, we hold an international campaign called “Justice for Khojaly” in order to convey to the world information about the most horrifying page of the Garabagh war.

In May, we held a Jazz evening devoted to the 75^th anniversary of Vagif Mustafazadeh, a great Azerbaijani jazzman, who had opened the jazz-mugham direction in the music art.  

Our youth like participating in different sports events. This year, we held a traditional annual mini football tournament for “AYOR Student Games” and the “Heydar Aliyev Cup”  to support the first European Games. In the intellectual sphere, 16 teams representing all diasporas of the republic participated in the “What? Where? When?” international tournament. Azerbaijan’s KVN team has been performing successfully. Mobile winter school was arranged in Kaluga Region. It is significant that our activists arrange regular meetings, exhibitions and cultural events in different higher schools of Russia.

As you know, our countries and our organization has been paying special attention to ecology and protection of the environment. Over 4 million trees were planted in Azerbaijan  by IDEA. It is rejoicing that our volunteers have been engaged in planting trees  in Russia too, and participate in a series of environmental projects.   We have a plan for future to have close partnership relations with Russia’s WWF (World Wide Fund) on, especially, matters concerning the protection of Caucasian leopard, aurochs and sturgeon. 

As you see, our organization has done a lot of works, while in operation, and reached great achievements, and implemented useful projects. But the most significant of them is that whatever we do, we do disinterestedly, and with good intentions. I’m proud we have such active, smart and positive young people. I would like to thank you for your initiatives, trust and support. A long path, interesting projects and ideas are waiting for us. I ‘m sure, we can solve any challenge facing us, and do a lot more works for our countries and nations. 

I thank you all. I wish you happiness, sound health, successes and, of course, abundant love! 

X X X

Minister of youth and sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan Azad Rahimov, minister of education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mikail Jabbarov, deputy chairperson of the Russian Federation Council Ilyas Umakhanov, chairperson of the Russian Duma’s committee for CIS issues Leonid Slutski,  Russian President’s special representative for humanitarian affairs Mikhail Shvydkoy,  ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Russian Federation Polad Bulbuloghlu, department head of the Moscow Government Vladimir Chernikov,  rector of the Russian State Humanitarian University Yefim Pivovar, and student of the Moscow State International Relations Institute Polad Talybov addressed the Forum. 

At the end of the Forum, a ceremony took place to reward winners of the contests held by AYOR, and activists of youth organization. Leyla Aliyeva presented diplomas of “A-student of the Youth Union“ to distinguished Azerbaijani students studying at Russia’s higher schools. 

The Forum continued its work in sections.  Attendees – representatives of the Azerbaijani Diaspora and of the Russian youth organizations - participated in sections on such topics as “Azerbaijan and calls of the new era”, “IDEA – one world, one future”, “Be an ambassador of justice”, “Development of tourism and ethnography as a means of patriotic and moral-ethic education of the youth” and “Youth’s career development: entrepreneurship and the path leading to  success”, and held discussions.