From September 17 to 19, participants in the 17th Forum of Creative and Scientific Intellectuals from CIS member states will gather in Ufa to discuss issues related to humanitarian cooperation.
The forum is organized by the Intergovernmental Foundation for Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Cooperation of CIS Member States (IFESCCO). According to the foundation's executive director, Anatoly Iksanov, the event “opens a new chapter in the forum's history.” He noted that while the forum is typically hosted by CIS capital cities and has been held in Moscow three times, this year it will take place for the first time in a regional center—Ufa. “The forum is organized in cooperation with the government of the Republic of Bashkortostan,” Iksanov added.
The main theme of the upcoming forum is “The Commonwealth of Independent States: Shared Values and Cultural Diversity.” More than 200 participants from CIS countries, including representatives from science, education, and the arts, will discuss various aspects of professional collaboration. Topics include new formats of cooperation in education, volunteering as a resource for societal development, and integration processes for promoting intercultural dialogue. The forum will also feature meetings of humanitarian organizations' leaders from CIS countries, roundtable discussions for filmmakers, heads of creative universities, and experts in inclusive project management. A special session will focus on preparations for the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
One of the forum’s highlights will be the ceremonial awarding of the CIS’s main interstate prize, the “Commonwealth Stars,” which recognizes outstanding achievements in the fields of art, science, and education. The laureates of the CIS Youth Award “Commonwealth of Debuts” will also be honored.
Participants and guests will be treated to a performance by the Youth Symphony Orchestra, whose members are selected annually. Formed in 2007, the orchestra includes young musicians from CIS countries who are winners of prestigious music competitions.
Since 2006, forums of intellectuals have been held annually, traditionally accompanied by meetings of governing bodies involved in humanitarian cooperation within the CIS, including the Council on Humanitarian Cooperation and the IFESCCO Board.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Lesnoy Volk/Creative Commons 2.0
Based on materials from TASS