Makhachkala, August 4, 2015. On August 3, the II International Interfaith Youth Forum has started in Karabudakhkent district of Dagestan. The event was organized by Dagestan Committee on Freedom of Conscience and Cooperation with Religious Organizations, Makhachkala Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, Dagestan Spiritual Muslim Board, the interregional youth laboratory on Caucasus development with the support of religious and youth organizations from the North Caucasus Federal District "Foundation for support of Islamic culture, science and education" and International open grant competition " Orthodox Initiative 2014 - 2015 ". As it was reported, the forum would last until August 11.

Having opened the forum, the 1st deputy Dagestan Prime Minister Anatoly Karibov read a greeting letter on behalf of Dagestan Head Ramazan Abdulatipov. The letter in particular runs:

"It has become a tradition to hold such a large scale youth interfaith forums and, I can say, this is a landmark event for our republic, making a significant contribution to the preservation and strengthening of inter-religious peace and harmony, the development of high spiritual, moral and ethical values among the current generation of Russian youth.

Besides, we dated this event for the celebration of the 2000th anniversary of Derbent - one of the most ancient Russian cities, a city of ancient architecture and history and three religions.

I want to say that the forum aims at improving and strengthening spiritual and moral values among the younger generation, nurturing correct the friendly perception of ethnic and cultural diversity of the region and creating an educational platform and environment to develop intercultural, inter-religious, inter-ethnic dialogue between young people aged 16-30 years ".

The first day of the forum ended with the performance of religious songs of different faiths. Then the event will continue within the framework of the celebration entitled “Interfaith dialogue - a way of development of civil society" dedicated to the 2000th anniversary of Derbent.

The opening ceremony was attended by the 1st deputy Dagestan Prime Minister Anatoly Karibov, the 1st deputy head of Administration of the Head and Government RD Aleksey Gasanov, Dagestan minister for national policy Tatiana Gamaley, Dagestan minister of press and information Aznaur Adzhiev, the chairman of Dagestan People's Assembly on Ethnic Relations, Affairs public and religious associations Davdiev Kamil, the chairman of Dagestan Committee on Freedom of Conscience Suleyman Magomedov, Dagestan's mufti Sheikh Ahmad Haji Abdulayev, Makhachkala diocese bishop Varlaam, the chairman of the Jewish community of Dagestan Shimi Dibiyaev and others.

The mufti of the Republic of Belarus Abubekir Shabanovich, the chairman of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church, Bishop of Vyborg and Priozersk Ignatius, the assistant director of the Federal Agency for the Affairs of Nationalities Oleg Seregin, the director of the department for relations with religious and community organizations and the administration of the head of Government of the Chechen Republic Ryzvan Dadaev, mufti of the Republic of North Ossetia - Alania Hadzhimurad Gatsalov, representatives of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Crimea were among the guests of honor.