I.Metshin speaks at a United Cities and Local Governments meeting in Yakutsk

(Kazan, KZN.RU, June 23). Yakutsk, the capital of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), hosted a meeting in advance of the forthcoming international conference "Cities and People: Civic Initiatives – the Formula of Mutual Trust" that starts on June 27. The event, held in the North-Eastern Federal University, was attended by President of the World Organization "United Cities and Local Governments", Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas, and UCLG Co-President, Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin.

Citizen participation in setting regional development priorities and interaction with pressure groups on all major municipality issues are of utmost importance for all UCLG member cities. For this reason, the conference dedicated to the exchange of the best ideas in this area will help all participants to improve the quality of urban governance and decision making.

"Yakutsk is one of the most active UCLG Russian member cities. Setting an example of dynamic development in a harsh climate, Yakutsk received a UN Habitat Honorary Award with the support of the Eurasian section, and Mayor Aisen Nikolaev was elected vice-president of the World Organization "United Cities and Local Governments" in 2013," Ilsur Metshin noted. "Due to the success of such cities as Yakutsk, our colleagues around the world become more interested in the role of the UCLG Eurasian section and its activities. On Saturday, Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas visited Kazan and participated in the Tatar national holiday of Sabantuy. Today, we've come together here in Yakutsk to learn more about the city, the great Sakha people and its exciting holiday Ysyakh. I am confident that our meeting will contribute to the unity and cohesion of the Turkic peoples."

Members of the UCLG delegation also met with the acting head of the Republic of Sakha Yegor Borisov. They visited the treasury of the Republic of Sakha and the Us Hatyn area, where the traditional Sakha summer festival Ysyakh was presented.