Ali Hasanov Calls on the Youth to Fight Against Dissent

A conference marking the occasion of the first anniversary of Azerbaijan Youth Foundation took place on Wednesday at the JW Marriot Absheron.

The Foundation was established by a decree from the Azerbaijani President on December 19, 2011 in order to promote self-organization of youth and to promote public policies in different areas. In June this year, the organization presented its logo and website, www.youthfoundation.az.

Foundation Executive Director, Farhad Hajiyev, reported in a presentation indicating the Fund worked with 274 NGOs and 191 individuals. One hundred forty eight projects in various areas totaling 5 million manat have been financed.  Young people from 56 countries participated in the  project. Next year the Fund plans to support projects on the Karabakh issue, as well as grants for foreign participants. 

Minister of Sport and Youth, Azad Rahimov, noted the foundation was created because 66% of the population are below the age of 35. President Heydar Aliyev first came up with the idea creating special work for the youth.  After returning to the government in 1993, he established the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and was the initiator of other youth forums.

The Youth Foundation in Azerbaijan was the only project to get established in Europe after the initative failed which to get accustomed to Europe after a Strasbourg intuitive failed in 1972, said Ceyhun Osmanli, head of the youth movement "Ireli".

According to Ali Hasanov, the head of the sociopolitical department of the Presidential Administration encourages the state to work with the younger generation within the three main objectives Heydar Aliyev formulated at the First Youth Forum in 1997.  Those three main objectives are, one, increase physical and moral levels of Azerbaijani youth, two, to be competitive in the international arena, three, to direct achievements of young people to strengthen the state and society.

Addressing the legacy of Heydar Aliyev, and tasks set by President Ilham Aliyev, Hasanov expressed dissatisfaction with passivity of pro-government youth.

"Three or four people, without any resistance on your part, have organized flash mobs during the contest, showing foreigners slums, thereby causing serious damage to the image of the country," he said.

Hasanov called to act against such actions qualitatively and quantitatively: "We must ensure that not only four or five Azerbaijanis talk about Azerbaijan, but all of you, as an active part,   be able to bring problems of Azerbaijan to the international community," said Hasanov.

For these activities, it is necessary to create a second state program, "Development of Azerbaijani youth in 2011-2015" with a budget of 100 million manat.

At the conference, it was announced, to fight dissent and support state policy everywhere; in social networks, the media, with the participation of Diaspora organizations such as World Azerbaijani Youth Association and the Association of Azerbaijani youth in Russia. -0—