The Secretary General of the Turkic Council Ambassador Ramil Hasanov delivered the opening speech at the Global South-South Development EXPO 2017 Third Regional Networking Forum dedicated to the theme “Scaling up Southern Development Solutions Through Advanced Youth Leadership” organized on 26 November 2017 in Antalya.
Envoy of the UN Secretary General on South-South Cooperation Jorge Chediek, and top level representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, UNDP, UN Population Fund, World Green Economy Organization, Astana Regional Hub of Civil Service and Islamic Development Bank addressed at the opening session of the forum.
In his speech, Secretary General Hasanov underlined the increasing role of youth in world affairs. He expressed that development is just one area where meaningful youth involvement is increasingly seen as an indispensable element to reach the set targets.
Highlighting the instructions of the Heads of States to instigate a new cooperation area on youth, Secretary General provided information on the completed and ongoing projects and activities of the Turkic Council centered on youth. He referred the youth camps and festivals, student council, student exchange programme and youth platform as important youth initiatives of the Turkic Council relevant with the regional and global south-south development agenda.
Secretary General also extended information on the sports projects, young diplomats training programme, the international conference on the role of youth in preventing and countering violent extremism co-organized with the UNAOC, and the Online Academy on PVE as a new project to be implemented with the UNDP as important initiatives undertaken by the Turkic Council.
Deputy Director General of the Directorate General of Multilateral Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Osman Turan, in his address underlined the significance of the international conference on the role of youth in preventing and countering violent extremism co-organized by the Turkic Council and UNAOC, as well as the Turkic Council International Youth Camps as exemplary initiatives of the Turkic Council supporting global and regional development agenda.
Youth from the Turkic Council member states were also present at the Forum and actively contributed to the discussions.
Secretary General Hasanov was accompanied by the Deputy Secretary General Ömer Kocaman, Project Directors Ali Çiviler, Pelin Musabay Baki, Zhanar Nugumanova, Chief of Protocol Emre Yurdakul, Deputy Director of Financial and Administrative Affairs Araz Salmanov.
