MARDIYEV | my point of view

20th anniversary of our independence is marked with a number of important events. ASAIF’s forum held in France on 11-12 March can be included in the list. Azerbaijan’s human capital of over 250 young scholars, students, researchers, graduates, and specialists living in 25 different countries came together to discuss the future development of Azerbaijan, priorities and general activity issues. Forum’s name “Azerbaijan 20 – View 2020” clearly explains its purpose. Holding the event on the 20th anniversary of independence in the political capital of Europe can be seen as a message to the youths. We are strong and decisive enough to achieve our targets though our own resources. Bringing together the youths with intellectual potential and coordination of unorganized activities are within the interests of Azerbaijan. ASAIF Forums are favorable place to create such platforms. The established networks and the agreements reached here are capable of breathing new life into lobby activities.

Unfortunately, some youths studying abroad are left aside from all the processes as they were not publicly active in the country. I remember the words of one student studying in Holland in the end of ASAIF Forum “I got acquainted with other 3 students who study in the same country with me. It is very nice”. This is an indispensible opportunity for our students all over Europe to network, to exchange their experiences, and to reach initial agreements on future activities.

Participation of about 50 state officials and experts should be especially noted. The speeches of the state officials, conversations with them helped the youths to get an idea of main directions of this activity and objectively gauge the processes going on in the country and the region. The meeting of the students with our ambassadors in Western European countries was one of the important ones. The students put questions and received answers from the ambassadors, got familiarized with the activities of the embassies, and brought the positive and negatives points about embassies’ activities to the attention of the ambassadors. The youths also received a piece of advice on what to keep in the center of attention in their future activities. The speeches of the state officials strengthened the opinion that Azerbaijan pins high hopes on young generation and will spare no effort for bringing up well-versed healthy youths. I would like to mention the thoughts by chief of political analysis and information support department of Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Republic Elnur Aslanov: “You are stepping into new stage. You are new force strengthening the ideas of Azerbaijan, our national interests, and our statehood”.

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