Development of Mountain Territories in CIS Countries Discussed at International Forum in Dagestan

The Second International Forum “Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories” was held in Makhachkala (the Republic of Dagestan, the Russian Federation) on 1-3 October. It brought together representatives of the parliaments of the Commonwealth countries, the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, relevant ministries and agencies, academia, experts, and delegates from international organizations. A total of about 1,000 people from all the IPA CIS Member Nations and other countries took part in the forum.

The forum was organized by the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS, the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Republic of Dagestan, the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation.

The event opened with the youth forum “Voice of the Mountains”. Over 200 students from five countries took part in the program. With the expert support of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the young people developed projects in three areas: ecology, economics and social development of mountain regions. The authors of the best projects had the opportunity to present them on the main forum.

Over the course of three days, the forum featured numerous discussion platforms, like panel discussions and roundtables devoted to regional characteristics of socio-economic development in mountainous areas, subsoil use, the prospects for the development of the North Caucasus scientific community, the organizational and legal conditions for life in mountainous areas, the improvement of infrastructure and energy supply, modern approaches to the work of the agro-industrial complex in mountainous regions, the rehabilitation of areas with radioactive contamination, and other issues.

Following the event, a resolution was adopted containing specific measures and proposals for the development of mountain regions, aimed at achieving the goal of creating a balanced state policy that ensures the socio-economic development of mountain areas while unconditionally preserving their unique natural and cultural potential for future generations.

The forum’s resolution will be published on the forum’s official website and the IPA CIS website. The document will be presented to the heads of the parliaments of the Commonwealth countries and partners of the IPA CIS.