IRI Hosts National Youth Conference

September 13, 2004

September 3-5 – IRI conducted a national youth conference entitled “Youth in Politics: Local Issues, Local Activism” in Mardakan, Azerbaijan. The conference was the culmination of IRI youth workshops held in 16 regions of Azerbaijan from December 2003 to July 2004.

Approximately 100 of the most active participants from the regional conferences attended the national conference. Participants came from many regions across Azerbaijan, and included members of both ruling and opposition political parties, students and young people working with NGOs. During the three-day conference, participants engaged in team-building exercises designed to encourage them to participate politically and civically in their communities. The overall theme of the conference was the municipal elections (scheduled in Azerbaijan for December 2004). During part of the conference, participants worked on a mock-campaign and election.

U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno L. Harnish delivered the welcoming speech; and Intigam Babayev from the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Tourism, and Khazar University President Hamlet Isakhanli also addressed the conference.

The conference was a unique opportunity for some of the brightest, most politically and civically active youth from across the country to network and be encouraged to take part in the future leadership of their communities and country. IRI plans to continue regularly scheduled meetings with the group of young activists.

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