OSCE Youth Summit

From the Byzantines and the Genoans, the Khazars and the Tatars, to the Turks and the Russians, Gurzuf, a small picturesque settlement on the southern coast of the Crimean Peninsula, now in Ukraine, has, for many centuries, been attracting traders and warriors, travelers and artists from all over the Black Sea region.

Since 1925, Gurzuf has been home to Artek, the best-known international pioneer camp in Soviet times. Now, almost 90 years later, the International Children’s Centre Artek at the foot of Ayu-Dag, or Bear Mountain, continues to bring together children from all over the world to meet new friends, have fun and learn about each other’s countries and cultures.

In July-August 2013, the OSCE’s Ukrainian Chairmanship held a Youth Summit in Artek. More than 500 young people from more than 60 countries got together to discuss how they can contribute to tolerance and non-discrimination, conflict prevention and peaceful development, environmental protection and information security.

The podcast below includes comments from the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara, as well as the OSCE Secretary General, Lamberto Zannier, and a number of Summit participtants.

Click here to see a photo gallery from the Youth Summit.