Moscow hosted the Youth Historic-Cultural Session (YHCS) of the CIS 2011 under the Intergovernmental Fund of Humanitarian Cooperation and the Council on Youth Affairs of the CIS. The meeting was devoted to the Year of Historic-Cultural Heritage in the countries of the CIS and the 20th anniversary of foundation of the organization. 140 representatives of 11 states of the CIS participated in the project. Objectives of the YHCS were defined by the president of Russia in his greeting: “Young cultural activists will discuss relevant issues of preservation and promotion of rich cultural property of our peoples. It is important that young historians, archeologists, restorers and journalists have opportunity for professional experience exchange, implementation of joint projects, and enrichment of traditional historic ties of our states with contemporary content.”
The deputy chairman of the Executive Council of the CIS, Toktasyn Buzubayev, said that this year projects within the intergovernmental program “Cultural capitals of the Commonwealth” were developed. They will end in December in Ulyanovsk and Gomel. Also the plan of the strategy “International Youth Cooperation by 2020” for 2012-2013 was adopted.
The deputy of the State Duma Svetlana Zhurova touched upon establishment of the Eurasian Union, underlining importance of participation of young people in this process, as the countries-members of the CIS have common historic-cultural space.
The member of the Public Chamber Alexander Sokolov said that if Russia had still been the center of the Eurasian space, the level of inter-ethnic tension in the country would be much lower. According to Sokolov, if people have no necessity in communication and peaceful life together, no forums can be effective. He hopes that the forum will be the start for a big youth net in the countries of the Commonwealth, which will encourage Eurasian integration and development of inter-ethnic relations in each of our countries.
The astronaut Viktor Savinykh told that in Kirov Tsiolkovsky Readings for children and young people have been held for 15 years: “Children, who are interested in space, from the whole country come to Kirov. This year we welcomed participants from Belarus and Ukraine. In two years we will hold next Tsiolkovsky Readings for children in a new space center. I invite all countries-participants of the current forum to Kirov.”
The chairman of the committee of the Public Chamber on Preservation and Development of Social Culture, Vasily Bychkov, is sure that culture is the most important resource for society’s development. One of significant achievements of recent years is establishment of youth art, scientific and sporting unities, which are supported and initiated by the government. Bychkov thinks that such projects are important not only for young people, who take part in them, but also for the regions, where the projects are implemented.
The first deputy chairman of the Committee on Youth, Sporting and Tourist Affairs under the government of Tajikistan, Kabirdzhon Dzhirayev, noted that youth policy is a priority for the CIS countries. In 2005 the Council on Youth Affairs was established in the structure of the Executive Committee of the CIS for coordination of work in this sphere.
Initiators of the youth forum summed up results of youth organizations work in the CIS countries in 2011. An important event of 2011 was the Sixth Forum of Arts and Scientific Intelligentsia “Historic and Cultural Heritage of the CIS Countries, Common Achievements, Resources and Stable Development,” which was held in Kiev on October 21-22. In March Ukraine hosted the round table with participation of theater workers of the Commonwealth states and the Baltic states: “Role of theater in development and improvement of cooperation between countries of the CIS and the Baltic states.” Moreover, in Ukraine the ninth International Scientific Art Workshop “Woloshin September” took place. In September-November 2011 in Kazakhstan the International Workshop-Training on Historic-Cultural Heritage of the CIS countries, which was aimed at education of young specialists, was held. During the winter session of the PACE the Russian delegation organized the exhibition “Never again!” devoted to the 65th anniversary of victory in the Second World War.
Alexander Sokolov, the member of the Public Chamber of Russia
The Eurozone is in deep crisis, however, success of the EU is seen in the sphere of values and development of civil institutes. These instruments should be used. To make friends and communicate it is easier to hold cultural programs. From some point implementation of such projects as art festival and support of business will be based on the same mechanisms.
Albina Duishinbayeva, the initiator of the youth festival of social videos “We are together,” Kyrgyzstan
The aim of the project is consolidation of young generation of the CIS countries and harnessing of their energy through videos.
Akhagani Faradzhiyev, participants of the forum, Azerbaijan
I want the CIS young people, who participate in the forum and other events, would closely cooperate with each other, as views exchange and exchange of projects are very important. Young people are working in their countries, but no experience exchange is taking place between them. Azerbaijan is working with Western organizations, but work with the CIS countries is taking place slowly. I hope that the special format of cooperation between youth organizations in the CIS countries will be established. Work of youth organizations in Russia differs from work of youth organizations in Azerbaijan. We are working with sponsors and Russian organizations - with the state mainly. Integration of youth organizations is a great resource.
Olga Agarkova, the initiator of the Cartoon Academy of the CIS, Russia
A want the center of the Cartoon Academy would be in Pyatigorsk, as it is a resort-town with rich history, where people of various nations are living. We want to produce moral cartoons, similar to Soviet ones. It will be a series of legends from all countries of the CIS, which will speak about national peculiarities. Moreover, young people will learn design, screenwriting, direction and history.
