Activities in Azerbaijan

23. April: Seminar in Baku

With the enthusiastic support of JEF Europe, JEF-Azerbaijan hold a seminar, titled "How to avoid conflicts in the Caucasus- European Cooperation as a Role Model" in Baku, together with 25 young people from different corners of Europe.  This enabled all of them to discuss all the issue near the very shores of the wonderful Caspian Sea.

This international seminar aimed to discuss the positive and negative aspects of the policies carried out in Caucasus in peace building, achieving economic prosperity and strengthening the national identities of the Caucasian people during last 15 years, to identify the role of Youth NGO’s for the future regional co-operation in the region of the South Caucasus as well as other important issues. While with the other eye participants were trying to glance at European experience on the very field.

Existing conflicts in the Caucasus are major obstacles for the development of economy and civil society in the region. The conflicts weaken every kind of co-operation between different Caucasian peoples and states. Without mutual co-operation and understanding the future prosperity of the region would remain a good dream. It is promising that in the region acting some national and international organisations that understanding this reality promote peace building. It is very important for those organisations to understand the nature of the conflicts in the region and work out effective approach. JEFers in Azerbaijan are also wishing to be part of peace-building process in their region and work out their approach using advanced experience. With this seminar JEF Azerbaijan showed that it had already started and obviously in the future will back up youth dialogue in the region.

Not only with the conception, but as well even with the "design" of the seminar they were giving messages to concerning future cooperation of once-conflicting states. In this sense, it was indeed impressive to greet a Greek participant who was studying currenty at Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey. Participation of Katerina was clearly revealing that no single conflict lasts for eternity and even if there were faults in the past, we-young people are not guilty for that. And it is actually not even a question of being guilty. The bitter past shouldn't anyhow block our way towards cooperation in the fields of sport, culture, education, economy, and simply towards friendship.

And of course, they were not only discussing problems, but as well they were enjoying an atmosphere of interculturalism. Nights were accompanied by non-stop music discos. As well Baku Tour and farewell party at "Old Baku Restaurant" were awesome.