Over 20.000 youth and students– aged between 18 and 35- plus representatives of NGOs for youth, young athletes, journalists and businessmen from more than 150 countries, including Syria, are taking part in the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students(WFYS) being held in the Russian Sochi city.
The festival, opened last Sunday by the Russian President Vladimir Putin under the banner ‘Peace, Solidarity and Social Justice,’ reflects youth’s pursuit of freedom and happiness.
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the member of the participating Syrian delegation Nidal Ammar talked today about the aggressive policy of world imperialism that led to a series of catastrophes and disasters all over the world, including refugees crisis.
“Terrorism, which is logistically and financially supported by the United States, Zionism, the Turkish government, Qatar sheikhdom and Al Saud caused the displacement and immigration of thousands of Syrian Families to neighboring countries and Europe,” he said, asserting that the Syrian government works on ensuring the return of displaced persons to their homes and it meets their needs.
Another Syrian youth Ammar Kaadeh gave the participants an idea about the history of Syrian students’ struggle since the 1950s till today, pointing out that Syrian youth and students have backed the Syrian Arab army in the fight against terrorism.
On his part, Deputy Chairman of the Syrian youth delegation declared that the delegation will held several activities during the festival.
The participants in the festival, which will last till October 22, discussed today peoples’ friendship, refugee crisis, peace, justice, anti-imperialism, the strength of solidarity for drawing up peace constitution and the role of youth in environmental awareness.
Since 1947, the festival has been held every four years and organized by the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY).
Moscow hosted the festival in 1957 and in 1985.
Basma Qaddour