The 3rd International Youth Forum "Greater Europe Meetings" under the patronage of UNESCO

The 3rd International Youth Forum "Greater Europe Meetings: Paris 2015", organized by the "Youth Association for a Greater Europe", was held on July 27 at UNESCO HQ in Paris

The first forum was held in 2013 in Strasbourg (France) in the partnership with the Council of Europe, and the second in 2014 in Paris under the patronage of UNESCO. Like the last year, the 3rd Forum was also granted with the patronage of this leading international humanitarian organization.

At the Forum opening  Ms. Nada Al-Nashif, the Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Social and Human Sciences, on behalf of the UNESCO leadership celebrated the initiative to hold this international meeting on a regular basis as it complies with the mandate and the goals of the Organization's priorities in cooperating with youth. She focused on the key aspects of the youth policy of the world humanitarian organization, taking into consideration the global environment and sustainable development of the post-2015 agenda, and mentioned the fact, that the youth was an active partner of the Organization in its development and peace activities. UNESCO attaches great importance to active involvement of young people in development of science, education, culture, communication and information to pursue the major present-day goal - strengthening the idea of safeguarding peace.

H.E. Mr. Alexander Orlov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to France, Mr. Alexander Boldyrev, Deputy Permanent Delegate of the Russian Federation to UNESCO, Senator Mr. Yves Pozzo di Borgo, Vice-president of the France-Russia Friendship Group of the French Senate, MP Mr. Nicolas Duik, Member of the Committee on National Defense and Armed Forces at the French National Assembly, Mr. Claude-Marie Blanchemaison, former French Ambassador to Russia, Ms Lara Kaute, President of the "Youth Association for a Greater Europe " presented their speeches for the delegates at the Forum.

The addresses of the French parliamentarians about their recent visit to Crimea and meetings with Russian leaders drew all listeners' attention. The Ambassadors Orlov and Blanchemaison deeply shared their assessment of the current political situation in Russian-French relations, the importance of the accomplishment and contribution of young people to the prospects of bilateral cooperation .

The round tables "2015 - 70 Years after the End of the II World War and the Creation of UNESCO. The Importance of the Peace Strengthening in a Greater Europe Today" and "The Role of Youth in Civil Diplomacy" were held for the participants of the Forum.

Within the framework of the 3^rd Forum, the Orchestra of a Greater Europe which united young musicians from France, Germany, Georgia, Russia and Ukraine performed the concert "We want peace!", which consisted of musical compositions by Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Dvořák, Mozart and Mendelssohn.

Significant assistance to the organization of the 3^rd International Youth Forum was made by the Russian Embassy in France, the Permanent Delegation of Russia to UNESCO, the A.M.Gorchakov Foundation for Public Diplomacy and the Rossotrudnichestvo.

This year the members of the France-Russia Friendship Group of the French Senate and the National Assembly were active partners of the event, as well as the companies "Total", "Renault", "Schneider Group" and "Alstom".

Parisian Forum of 2015 brought together more than 100 delegates from 18 countries of Europe and CIS, diplomats from UNESCO member-states, representatives of the UNESCO Secretariat, youth organizations, Russian and French media.

Information of the Permanent Deligation of Russia to UNESCO

 Programme of the 3rd International Youth Forum at UNESCO 

 Video of the Forum

 Photo album

 Full audiotrack (original in French and English)

 Address by Ms. Nada Al-Nashif, Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Social and Human Sciences

 Address by Mr. Alexandre Boldyrev, Deputy Permanent Delegate of the Russian Federation to UNESCO