North-South, Baku Network and Trend discuss youth relations of Russia and Azerbaijan

The Baku Central Library of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences is holding the expert meeting titled 'Youth of Russia and Azerbaijan: traditional values – reference point to the future' today. It was organized by the North-South political center, Baku Network and Trend.

The meeting was opened by the executive director of the North-South political center, Anzhelika Trapeznikova, the correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza reports. She spoke about the role and importance of relations among the youth of Russia and Azerbaijan.

Then the floor was given to the head of the expert council of Baku Network Elkhan Alasgarov. "Our generation wants to share the Russian-Azerbaijani ties that existed in our time with a new generation, I think the new generation will continue these traditions, and today's meeting will give impetus to our relations," he said.

Assistant to the State Duma deputy Ramin Gasimov said that it is necessary to protect our own values. "Some countries interfere in our cultural ties, although we have our own traditions, and our values ​​should be developed," the politician called on.

The head of the Ireli public union, Mirgasan Seyidov, stressed the importance of creating humanitarian bridges for more active cooperation, drawing attention to the great role of youth and the AYOR in this matter.

Deputy Chairman of the Assembly of the Peoples of Russia, Venaliy Amelin, cited the youth statistics of the Russian Federation, according to which, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Chechnya and Kabardino-Balkaria occupies the top four positions with the highest percentage of young people (from 14 to 34) among the population. At the same time the higest number of young people live in Moscow and the Moscow region.

"In Kazakhstan, the proportion of young people is 29% (4.5 million), in Tajikistan, 50% of the population are young people. In Kyrgyzstan, the average age of the population is 27," Venaliy Amelin noted.

Head of the Center of Prospective Studies, Sergeu Masulov, cited statistics on terrorist crimes in Central Asia. "If in 2012 there were 13 attempts to carry out terrorist attacks in Kyrgyzstan, then in 2015 - there were 6 attempts. At the same time, Kyrgyzstan is moving up to first place in extremist crimes: in 2014 there were 97 such crimes, while in Kazakhstan their number was 44 in the same year, and there were no such crimes in Uzbekistan at all," he warned.

Political scientist, employee of the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism Tofik Abbasov recalled that multiculturalism was a priority in Azerbaijan throughout the history of the country. "Historically, Azerbaijan has always been a space of tolerance. And in 2014 the Center for Multiculturalism was established in Azerbaijan," the expert said.

According to him, representatives of 80 different nationalities peacefully live side by side in Azerbaijan, which is the best indicator of the level of multiculturalism and tolerance. Abbasov added that the system of multiculturalism is built on the skills of tolerance and compromise between ethnic layers.