In his speech, the deputy noted that the Kyrgyz people are happy because they live on their native land, with deep roots and a rich history.
"When I studied in China, among the Kyrgyz living there, we dreamed of traveling to other countries, such as America. But for our compatriots in China, there is a cherished dream — to visit their historical homeland at least once, to meet elderly Kyrgyz, to see Issyk-Kul, and to climb Suleiman Too. The same applies to the Pamir and Van Kyrgyz, as well as our citizens in Australia and other countries," he added.
Muratbekov noted that a significant turning point in the history of Kyrgyzstan occurred, thanks to which the country became independent.
"I urge the youth to make the most of the opportunities provided by our ancestors and to build a bright future for the coming generations," he emphasized.
However, the deputy pointed out the absence of an independent body dealing with youth policy in Kyrgyzstan.
For comparison, Uzbekistan has an Agency for Youth Affairs under the president with 700 employees in the central office and about 10,000 across the country. Kazakhstan also has a committee for youth affairs with 50 employees in the central office and 200 across the republic, and its budget amounts to 12 million dollars. In Russia, a federal agency operates in a similar direction.
In Kyrgyzstan, youth policy is handled by the Ministry of Culture, which employs only seven people. Some tasks have been transferred to district administrations, but often this is just a formality. Despite an increase in staff in recent years, only seven specialists remain in the office," the deputy noted.
He also spoke about a recent meeting with the president, during which the head of state expressed support for youth initiatives.
"We proposed to create a Youth Council under the chairmanship of the Jogorku Kenesh. We express our gratitude to Chairman Marlen Mamataliyev for his support; the resolution has already been adopted," he added.
The Youth Council will serve as a platform for interaction between the deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh and the youth of the country. Its composition will include the chairman, deputies, representatives of government bodies, local council deputies, young activists, doctors, teachers, and other professionals. We plan to hold meetings every quarter to discuss current issues and youth initiatives," Muratbekov noted.
He also mentioned that Uzbekistan has a youth parliament, which selects active students who work with deputies as public assistants.
"We also intend to select 90 young people from different regions of the country. They will undergo two months of training and will be assigned to deputies as public assistants," the deputy added.
Muratbekov emphasized that the Youth Council will be a public body, and young activists are ready to work on a voluntary basis. The Council will also focus on developing various projects to attract financial and grant support from international organizations.
