On April 15-16, Tashkent City of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which was declared the CIS Youth Capital 2024, hosted the regular meeting of the Council for Youth Affairs of the CIS member states, which was also attended by the delegation headed by RA Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Arthur Martirosyan.

The representatives of Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Azerbaijan, CIS Executive Committee and youth service organizations for work and youth entrepreneurship development of CIS member states participated in the session.

The Council members addressed issues related to the state youth policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the action plan of the CIS International Youth Policy strategy for 2023-2024 and activities provided for as part of the “2024 - the CIS Year of Volunteer Movement” program in the CIS member states.

During the session, issues related to the “CIS Youth Capital” program were also considered, in particular, events held in the CIS youth capitals. In this regard, reference was also made to the events scheduled in Kapan, the regional centre of RA Syunik, which was declared the CIS Youth Capital for 2026. Several decisions were also made during the session, and it was decided that the city of Dushanbe of the Republic of Tajikistan would host the next session.

At the meeting of the CIS Council for Youth Affairs, ESCS Deputy Minister Arthur Martirosyan introduced the reforms in the youth sector in Armenia, covering legislative developments, as well as activities to enhance the infrastructure and the environment with a view to unlock the youth potential and expand opportunities. The Deputy Minister, in particular, presented the work carried out towards the development of the law “On Youth Policy”, and also mentioned that many development programs of structures have become available to both the youth of Armenia and Armenian and foreign youth residing outside Armenia through the Youth Portal and other resources.

Arthur Martirosyan also touched upon several youth events and programs implemented in the Republic of Armenia, emphasizing, in particular, programs aimed at developing media, cyber and financial literacy and volunteerism, in which young people from CIS member states can also participate in 2024.

The members of the Council participated in the opening ceremony of Tashkent as the first CIS Youth Capital, met with participants of the conference of youth public organizations of the CIS member states, and familiarized themselves with the activities of several youth structures operating in Tashkent.

It should be recalled that the Council for Youth Affairs of the CIS member states was established on November 25, 2005, under the agreement on cooperation in the field of work with the youth of the CIS member states. Currently, the Council's members include Armenia, Russia, Tajikistan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan.