Lebedev: CIS Youth Capital project to help unite Commonwealth efforts in work with youth

The CIS Youth Capital project will help unite the efforts of the Commonwealth countries in the field of youth work, exchange experience in developing the potential of young people and improving international youth co-operation – as stated by the CIS Secretary General, Sergei Lebedev, sb.by reports with reference to the CIS Executive Committee official website

A solemn ceremony has been held today in Tashkent to give the city the status of the CIS Youth Capital. The CIS Secretary General, Sergei Lebedev, sent greetings to the organisers and participants of the event, noting, in particular, that interstate co-operation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere is improving every year in the Commonwealth, new projects and programmes are being launched.

"One of the endeavours aimed at uniting the efforts of the Commonwealth countries in the field of youth work, sharing experience in developing the potential of young people and improving international youth co-operation is the CIS Youth Capital project," Mr. Lebedev said, adding that Tashkent is the first city in the Commonwealth to receive the high status of the Youth Capital of the CIS.

According to the CIS Secretary General, the choice is well deserved: citizens under the age of 30 comprise almost half of its population. “The city enjoys all the opportunities for high-quality education, recreation, sports, creative activity, work and useful employment of young people. Tashkent has significant and generally applicable experience of working with young people, interesting public initiatives, and a rich cultural life. It has repeatedly become a venue for large-scale international youth events, and it has also presented many joyful meetings and discoveries for curious tourists," Mr. Lebedev stressed.

The CIS official expressed deep respect for the actions of the leadership of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the city of Tashkent aimed at increasing the role of young citizens in public life, at mastering new skills and advanced knowledge in the interests of accelerated development of their country.

Mr. Lebedev also noted that an important part of the upcoming event will be a youth forum and a meeting of the Youth Affairs Council, which – he believes – will make a significant contribution to the development of humanitarian co-operation between the CIS member states, improve mechanisms for working with young people and enhance interaction between the CIS public associations.