A/40/PV.79 General Assembly
149. International Relief to Colombia: Draft Resolution (A/40/L.16)
I call on the
representative of Bolivia, who will introduce draft resolution A/40/L.16.
Mr.~. G~UCIO GRANIER (Bolivia) (interpretation from Spanish): As world
public opinion is aware, during last Wednesday night, 13 November, the volcano
Nevada del Ruiz erupted, with disastrous consequences in parts of the depar~ments
of of caldas, Tolima and Valle del cauca in COlombia• .
The informa~ion media has related to us Dantean scenes produced by avalanches
and uncontainable mudslides where the eternal snows of the Andes, together with
volcanic ashes from the Nevada del Ruiz, unleashed a.ll their force, taking
thousands of human lives, destroyin~ all agricultural lands, leaving over
200,000 persons without housing or a source of livelihood, in the most harsh arid
tragic conditions imaginable.
I must briefly mention that the town of Ar'jero in the department of Tolima was
virtually destroyed. The town of Santuario, which is also in Tolima, and the town
of Chinchina, in caldas, have been very badly affected by floOds. The Azufrado,
Lagunilla and Guali Ri.vers have flooded vast regions, causing the evacuation"of the
populations of Mariquita and Sonda, and neighbouring ~ural areas.
The Colombian Government immediately began celief efforts in which it was
joined by non-governmental and governmental organizations. None the less, because
of the magnitude of the disaster, the international community must co-operate and
help in the efforts undertaken by the Government and people of Colombia.
Given this tragic situation, and in consideration of the humanitarian spirit
that has always prevailed in our Organization, I wish to submit to the plenary
~eting of the General Assembly draft resolution A/40/L.l6, which is sponsored by
the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados,
Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, CUba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada,
Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay,
Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezeula and Bolivia.
Many other countries from a number of other regions wanted to join in
sponsoring the draft resolution, but in view of the urgency of the question and
logistic problems it was decided, for the sake of effectiveness and
eXPeditiousness, that the draft resolution should be submitted with the
co-sponsorship of the countries that I have just listed.
Colombia is in mourning because of this terrible tragedy, which has taken
thousands of Olives. The challenge to the Colombian Government is to meet the needs
of the survivors. We know that the people and Government of Colombia will deal
vith this natural disaster with characteristic valour and courage. We are
convinced that the international community will take the necessary measures to
complement the efforts being made by that brother country with which we have
historic ties of friendship.
Finally, I should like to express, on behalf of the Latin American countries,
our deepest regret at this tragedy that has struck the Colombian people. I am sure
that these feelings are shared by all the delegations here.
Mr. GOLOB (Yugoslavia) (interpretation from Spanish): On behalf of the
Group of 77, for whom I have the honour to speak, I wish to express our complete
solidarity with the people and Government of Colombia in the tragic situation
caused by the volcanic eruption of Nevado del Ruiz. We are deeply shocked by the
devastation and the enormous loss of human life caused by the uncontrollable forces
(Mr. Gumucio Granier, Bolivia)
of nature. This iJlBeasurable disaster is also a serious blow to the development
efforts of Colombia. The recovery and reconstruction of the stricken area will put
a heavy strain on ColoJllbia's econOllY and resources. The determination of the
Goverrment and people of ColOllbia to overcome this calaJlity will, we are convinced,
have the full support and assistance of the ~.ntire international co..unity, and the
developing countries, for their part, will be ready to participate in these
efforts.
we are confident that the organizations of the United Nations system will
respond fully and blllediately to the emergency needs of the Colombian people in
order to alleviate their suffering and facilitate the process of recovery. The
secretary-General, Mr. Perez de Cuellar, who has so often on siailar occasions
played an outstanding role in mobilizing international resources, will no doubt do
his utlllOSt again this ti.e.
Kr. SMIRNOV (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (interpretation from
Russian): On behalf of the delegations of the socialist countries of Eastern
Europe and the Mongolian delegation, allow me, as Chairman of the Eastern European
Group, to express our condolences and deep sympathy to the Government and people of
Colombia on the disaster which has afflicted them. OUr delagations fUlly support
the draft resolution on this question.
_ May I take it that the
General Assembly wishes to adopt d~aft resolction A/40/L.16?
Draft resolution A/40/L.16 was adopted (resolution 40/13).
Kr. ALBAN-HOLGUIN (Colombia) (interpretation from Spanish): On behalf cIf
the Colombian people, I wish to express to you our sincerest gratitude for the
resolution ~'1.'''1 have jus't adopted. I also thank the distinguished representatives
of the States that have, in one way or another, expressed their solidarity with the
Colombian nation over the tragic events of recent days.
I wish to extend my very special gratitude to you, Mr. President, for the kind
words that you expres~ed about my country yesterday, as well as to the president of
the Security Council and to the Chairmen of the various Committees of the General
Assembly who expressed similar feelings of sorrow and solidarity with the Colombian
people. To the Group of 77, so ably represented by Ambassador Golob, and the Latin
American Group, represented by Ambassador Gumucio Granier, I extend my gratitude
for having proposed this draft resolution.
Nature had been bountiful to Colombia. It had provided its inhabitants with
land, mountains and rivers, from which they derived their sustenance and wealth,
and had also given them beautiful landscapes whl.ch inspired a pleiad of artists who
felt deeply moved at living in those surroundings.
But now nature has seen fit to unleash on two of the most admired and
appreciated areas of our homeland, inhabited by hard-working, peaceful and creative
people, a volcanic avalanche which has caused the death of thousands of persons,
which has buried entire towns, which has left tens of thousands of persons injured
or in poor health conditions and which has impoverished all of them. Bridges,
roads, electric power plants, water and power supplies and public services have all
been destroyed. Moreover, the disaster has left thousands of children orphaned and
homeless, children that are embarking upon the adventure of life without the light
of paternal guidance and without the comfort of parental care. Nor do we know what
volcanic activity might take place in the future, and as some volcanoes are still
active we are obliged to evacuate more than ten ~illages.
Very little can be done" to restore the towns and their people that have been
buried by mud for ever. We can only pray that their bones, which have been
returned to the earth from which they came, may complete the cycle of man with
nature in the presence of God. But, together with that farewell to those whom we
love, we must make a otrenuous and united effort for those who remain alive, so
that they can rebuild their homes, organize their work once again and return to
their creative agriCUltural work which was so harshly interrupted. This is where
the peoples of the United Nations, who have shown such solidarity, can contribute
to m¥ country.in order to make the recovery of the persons affected less painful.
We are very well aware of just how generous that solidarity is because only a
short time ago it was put to the test when an earthquake struck the city of
Popayan, also taking many lives and causing unparalled destruction.. But today, 24
months later, thanks to a joint effort with the participation of individuals,
organizations and friendly Governments, the city of Popayan is proudly at a very
advanced stage in its reconstruction and, on the faces of its inhabitants, we see
once again looks of optimism and joy for the future.
It is hard for me to find the words to thank you for the singular gesture of
(Mr. Alban-Holguin, Coloabia)
solidarity underlying this resolution that you have just adopted. May I just
repeat to all of you: thank you, thank you very much.
For the second time at this
commemorative session we have had to confront disaster: first of all, the
earthquake in Mexico, and now the eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in
Colombia~ ! believe that the action we have taken is a way of demonstrating that
the General Assembly and the united Nations system at iarge is able to react with
deep feeling and efficiency to the emergency situations that unfortunately afflict
mankind.
PROGRAMME OF WORK
Vote:
40/13
Consensus
I should like to inform
representatives that the reports of the Third Committee on agenda items 89
(International Youth Year: Participation, Development, Peace) and 95 (Policies and
programmes relating to youth) will be considered on Monday, 18 November, as the
first item in the morning. Part I of the report of the First Committee on agenda
item 65 (Review of the implementation of the recommendations and decisions adopted
by the General Assembly at its tenth special session) will be considered that same
morning as the second item. The Assembly will then begin its consideration of
agenda item 34 (Question of Namibia).
UNITED NATIONS WORLD CONFERENCE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR (PLENARY MEETINGS DEVOTED TO POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES RELATING TO YOUTH IN ACCORDANCE WITH RESOLUTION 39/22
of 23 NOVEMBER 1984)
89. INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR: PARTICIPATION, DEVELOPMENT, PEACE: REPORT OF THE THIRD COMMITTEE (A/40/855) POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES RELATING TO YOUTH: REPORT OF THE THIRD COMMITTEE (A/40/856) (Mr. Alban-Holguin, Colombia) Mr. AGUILAR (Guatemala) fin~erpretation from Spanish): On behalf of the delegation of G@atemala, I should 11ke to express our solidarity with the people and Government of Colombia over the tragedy they suffered on the eruption of the Nevado Del Ruiz volcano, which has devastated a large part of that fraternal country. It is a source of joy for the delegation of Guatemala to be participating in this united Nations World Conference for International Youth Year, which is the culmination of the celebration of the International Year. This is the way in which the international community is paying a well-deserved tribute to a broad sector of the world's population - youth. This effort by the international community is an effective way of promoting the active participation of youth in the development of countries and especially of our developing countries. The participation of youth is necessary in the building of dynamic, just and equitable societies where, through legitimately democratic systems, peace, security and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms prevail. The celebration of International Youth Year - participation, development, peace - does not mean that we have discovered a new problem among the numerous problems affecting the world of today. On the contrary, we believe that it means that we recognize the urgent need for the participation of youth in the que~t for new paths that can bring about lasting means to achieve political, economic, sceial and cultural development, imbued with the principles of peace and harmony in fulfilment of the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter. Today's young people have been exposed to innumerable external factors that have had a negative effect on their development, causing feelings of insecurity about the future - the lack of guidelines to follow as a result of the adverse economic situation, the economic crisis, which it seems has no short-term solution, declines in prices of our commodities, stagnation of or decline in production, protectionist measures, a high foreign debt which seriously threatens the economic and social progress of our societies, a high rate of unemployment, underemployment and a lack of opportunity. Unfortunately, this economic crisis has forced our countries to take austerity measures, whose harmful result is poverty, whic~, in t~rn, results in a manifestation of discontent and frustration, is reflected in violence, delinquency, alcoholism, drug addiction, prostitution and illicit traffic in drugs. Guatemala is deeply concerned at the steady increase in alcoholism and in the illicit use of drugs by the youth of the world, which constitutes an artificial escape from the uncertainty as to a decent future, with opportunities for 'self-improvement and the effective enj9yment of human rights. All of this confirms the urgent need to establish a new international economic order, as recommended by so many resolutions adopted by our organization, and the establishment of political, economic, social and cultural measures aimed at establishing a just and equitable society in accordance with the international strategy for the third United Nations Development Decade. To ~hese problems we must add the unbridled arms race, the cost of which could be better invested to design, strengthen, improve and finance programmes for the social, economic and cultural development of those young people who are today limited in terms of their access to a better life. This situation demonstrates that our young people feel extremely frustrated. Those who are economically, politically and militarily powerful want to dominate the weak and have no intention to give the weak an opportunity. The most important thing would seem to be scientific and technological development aimed at destroying th~ gifts of nature and the creations and achievements of mankind. Young people, (Mr. Aguilar, Guatemala) on the other hand, want to live, to know and to discover a positive future. They have a right to take their own decisions and to participate in decisions that will affect them. They want to contribute to the establishment of a democratic, just and equitable society. They have a right to yearn for a peaceful world. The celebration of the International Year is even more relevant since we are also celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations. We have heard statements by Heads of State or Government as well as by special envoys during the celebration of this year. We have found in those statements ideas and topics on which we all agree. We are aware that we must adopt measures that really promote mutual trust. We must strive even harder to reduce tension and overt or covert confrontation. We must seek means of peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding. We agree that an end must be put to the unbridled arms race, but, above all, we agree that we must seek a lasting and stable peace. These thoughts are fully consistent with the just aspirations of the youth of the world. Without peace, there can be no participation, nor can there be development. we believe that our Organization has, to a great extent, achieved its goals. The peoples and Governments of the world are not only obliged but are also prepared to continue to invigorate and strengthen the United Nations. To do that, there is no better opportunity than this one. Let us contribute to increasing world-wide awareness of the situation of young people, bearing in mind their needs and aspirations, as well as the essential need for them to participate in the economic, social, political and cultural development of our peoples. To that end, we must bear in mind their creative potential, that creativity which is a new way of seeing life, a characteristic which is typical of youth, particularly when it is aimed at the restoration of peace and trust, the promotion of non-intervention and (Mr. Aguilar r Guatemala) non-interference in the internal and external affairs of other States, the non-use of force in international relations, the promotion of world disarmament, both conventional and nucle~r, the eradication of discrimination in all its -anifestations - all in the search for a better, mo~~ stable and more secure world. The work which began in 1979 for the celebration of this event has not come to an end here. This is only the first step in the many that remain to be taken since the progra-.es designed, as well as the guidelines recommended by the Advisory co..ittee, contained in document A/40/256, which Guatemala supports, have long-term projections, the only limits being the limits that we ourselves want to place on the.. Togeth~r with young people, we must work now to give them education, to give the. opportunities for social, economic and cultural development, so that when they assume their own responsibilities in guiding our societies, they will be able to take intellig~nt decisions for peace and development and, in turn, will be able to do the sue for future generations. We are aware that the participation of young people for development and for the atta~nment of peace has different manifestations in different societies. This means that there are differences between young people in rural and in urban areas, differences between literate and illiterate youth, between males and females, and differences in their views of their own societies. We believe it is important to establish educational policies that integrate all these different manifestations of young people and that stress the need for peace to prevail and the need for co-operation and international understanding to be promoted - peace, not only in the context of our not facing armed conflict, but most of all peace based on pr~nciples and facts that ensure economic and social justice, human rights and fundamental freedoms, mutual respect and human dignity. (Mr. Aguilar, Guatemala) This Year is very clear proof of the dedication of young people to peace, and in Guatemala efforts have been made to participate in the different international events that have taken place, as well as events at the regional level.. At the national level there have been a number of activities to celebrate this event t~rough.symposiums,conferences, seminars, exhibits and festivals.. Also, bearing in mind the fact that most Guatemalan young people are in rural areas, the Committee for Rural Youth has played a very important role in the celebration of International Youth Year by promoting rural training, the total cultural and economic development of young people in the countryside.. The Committee has organized youth m0etings that are debating the guidelines that should be followed in establishing a long-term youth policy in the country, which is to be established following this Year .. (Mr .. Aguilar, Guatemala) At the regional level, Latin America has held two regional meetings, the second in August of this year in Montevideo, Uruguay Cl We consider the conclusions and reccmmendations of those meetings to be extremely' enlightening, especially for the establishment of measures and policies for our youth. At both meetings the preponderant role of young ~ople in our region was recognized, especially in the political sphere. Today more than ever before, they participate actively in the establishment of a social democratic order. There can be no doubt that the thinking and participation of our y~~th have, been decisive and enriching for the process of change and return to democracy which has now been experienced in Guatemala. Mr. RIDBWAN (Indonesia): I should like to preface DrI statement by expressing my delegation's deepest sorrow for the victims of the tragic volcanic eruption that struck Colombia with such devastation. Our sympathy andoondolences go out to the Government and people of Colombia in their hour of anguish and great hardship. It is a distinct honour and privilege for me personally and for my delegation to parti~ipate on behalf of the youth of Indonesia in this historic united Nation~ World Conference for International Youth lear. Indeed, the Indonesian delegation and all of our Indonesian brothers aDd sisters at home look with great hope to the sucessful outcome to our deliberations. In the words of the Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Mr. Mochtar Kusumaatmadja, before the plenary of the fortieth General Assembly, and I quote: -As a country whose youth comprise over 60 per cent of its population, Indonesia attaches great importance to the World Conference for the International Youth Year ••• we are fully confident that the ••• Conference (Mr. Aguilar, Guatemala) will effectively ••• promote the universal hopes and aspirations of youth-. (A/40/PV.ll, p. 69) And I should like to assure you, Mr. President, and all of the representatives in this Assembly that my delegation will do its utmost to fully justify the confidence and expectations reposed in us by the youth of the world. It has been a long road from the Ninth WOrld Assembly of Youth held in Nairobi in 1976, when the proposal for designating an international youth year was launched, to this auspicious CUlmination of International Youth Year. It is to be recalled that the Nairobi initiative was resoundingly endorsed by the youth of the world, including by young people fran our part of the world, as reflected in the Borobudor Declaration adopted by the Fifth Asia Pacific Youth Forum held in Indonesia in October 1918 and hosted by the Indonesian National Youth committee. And it was a decision taken by the General Assembly at its thirty-fourth session by which this Organization designated 1985 as International Youth Year, under the theme WParticipation, Development, Peacew• Since then the Indonesian delegation to subsequent General Assembly sessions has always included a representative from the youth of Indonesia. As a result, Ifr:l delegation is proud that the youth of Indonesia have been able to participate in and contribute to the United Nations preparations for the observance of the Year. It has, indeed, been a rewarding experience to have worked hand in hand with other young people on the local, national, regional and international levels in the mobilization of efforts to promote the needs and aspirations of youth. Throughout this process young people, working together, have drawn attention to the valuable contribution that youth can make in all sectors of society. Equally, we have sought to deepen young people's understanding of the need to contribute to the task of nation-building, respect for the Charter, the eradication of colonialism and racialism in all of their manifestations, the economic, social and cultural advancement of PeOples and the (Mr. Ridhwan, Indonesia) promo~ion of international co-operation and understanding. The efforts and energies expended over the course of the past year demonstrate beyond any doubt the willingness of young people to participate actively in the promotion of disarmament, development and peace. For Indonesia's youth it is equally import~nt not. only to be the object of concern and discussion, because it is our conviction that we also have an important role and duty to perform in solving the myriad of problp,ms confronting our nations, regions and the world as a whole. For Indonesia, a developing country, whose majority population are young people, the central concern is the development of our country in all aspects of life. And for our youth those principally are the promotion of ~mployment and education, physical fitness and health, social and cultural advancement. I should like at this stage to briefly summarize the relevant activities that took place in Indonesia in connection with International Youth Year. On 10 January 1985, President Soeharto himself issued a Proclamation launching our national observance of International Youth Year, which was followed by a host of seminars, writing competitions, exhibitions, theater performances, the extensive use of television, radio and the print media, as well as participation in regional and international youth forums and organizations to raise the awareness of young people of the importance and relevance of the united Nations to youth. Those endeavours were sponsored by private contributions and supplemented by the Gover~ent which also provided general guidance on ways to carry out the various activities. with regard to furthering ongoing programmes or the initiation of new ones within the framewor~ of International Youth Year I should like to mention a few of the major ones, such as legislative action in the areas of youth, manpowe~ and the juvenile court syste~; labour-intensive development projects; vocational and entrepreneurial training programmes; environmental protection and beautification proj~:tsi the policy of transmlgr~tion, human settlements and improvement of youth villac,es; the integrated approach to agricultural development; regional seminars for young entrepreneurs and businessmen under the auspices of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN); the foster parents programme; physical fitness, health and nutrition; the Karang Taruna, or village youth organizations; the war against narcotic drugs ·and juvenile deliquency; and the carrying out of statistical surveys and polling of youth on various aspects of their concerns in order to respond to their needs more efficiently and effectively. All of those activities and programmes are being conducted within the context of the theme of International Youth Year, namely "Participation, Development, Peace". In this regard I should like to quote from the message of President Soeharto to the World Congress on Youth, held in Barcelona, Spain, in July last. He stated: "Youth and evelopment efforts of nations are inexorably bound together, as youth constitute the majority of the world's population. Hence the development of nations would be impossible without the active participation of young people. And, conversely, the success of development will directly benefit youth the most. Therefore youth has an interest in assuring development. However, in order to develop, the maintenance of peace is essential. For without peace there could be no development." In the ~ontext of these overriding concerns, the International Year of Peace, which was proclaimed during the observance of the fortieth anniversary of the united Nations, is a fitting expres~ion of the yearning of all mankind, young and old alike, for universal and permanent peace. !t is the fervent hope of my ~~legat!on and all Indonesians that the successes achieved during International Youth Year will not end with the conclusion of our Conference. Rather, we hope that the programmes and activities that have been carried out locally, nationally, regionally and internationally will continue and will be further strengthened and made even more effective and responsive to the needs of the youth of the world. Hence we regard the four draft resolutions before this Conference - concerning guidelines for further planning and suitable follow-up in the field of youth, youth and human rights, particularly the right to education and to work, creating opportunities for youth, and the strengthening of communication between the United Nations and youth organizations - as comprising in the main some of the essential elements of a comprehensive plan of action for the future. I should like to stress that the guidelines f'b further planning and suitable follow-up in the fielu of youth are pivotal to a long-term global youth strategy. The guidelines, which should be flexible in their implementation, should provide not only a conceptual framework for future action but also specific programmes and activities in achieving the goals of International Youth Year. None the less we also believe that what is lacking is an integrating mechanism for the co-ordinatison of the implementation of these important decisions. To this end it is my delegation's considered view that efforts should be undertaken to proclaim a decade of youth, to be started in 1989, in order that the youth of the world may be assured that as they enter the 21st century they will have the skills and abilities, as well as the collective resolve, to confront and overcome together, on the basis of co-operation and mutual understanding, the (Mr. Ridhwan, Indonesia) challenges that will face them. There truly could be no better ti-e than the coincide~ce of International Youth Year and the united Nations anniversary t~ begin this process. Mr. BROWNB (Fiji) I I should like to add my delegation's sympathy to that already expressed by previous speakers in regard to the calamdty recently suffered by Colombia. It is appropriate that this Conference on youth -eets here in the General Assembly on the fortieth anniversary of the united Nations. As the United Nations itself comes of age, it is timely to reflect on !8SU&~ relating to youth, that most dynamic canponent of our populations. In 1979 the United Nations designated 1985 International Youth Year to increase public awarenss of the problems and aspirations of youth around the world. Since then international forums within and outside the United Nations system have discussed the themes chosen for the year - participation, development and peace - searching for solutions to youth problems and encouraging active participation by youth everywhere in programmes of significance for the future of young people. In Fiji the Minister of Education and Youth, in 1984, apPointed a National Co-ordinating Committee comprising Government and non-governmental agencies to , prepare for International Youth Year. The Committee planned a programme which included: planting 1,000 seedlings, a youth seminar with emphasis on drugs, health and sex education, a seminar on rural-urban drift and CriB83 the evaluation of progress in July, a national youth rally in October, an evaluation of International Youth Year in December, with messages from the Pri.e Minister and the leader of the opposition, and planning for a follow-up in 1986. The Governor General of Fiji officially launched Fiji's international youth year in the capital, Suva, in March of this year. .(Hr. Ridhwan, Indonesia) Apart frOll 'youth rallies, seminars, workshOpS and sporting events to signify the ilp)rtance of the year, its celebration is intende.d t.o be a reinforcing step in the process of developing policies and programmes for greater youth participation in all aspects of the social, economic, cultural and political life of our country. (Mr. Browne, Fiji) Over half our population ls under 21 years of age. For the past 10 years, during each of OUlt' last two five-year development plans, youth programmes have featured prcminently. The next five-year development plan, 1986-1990, will continue and strengthen the ba~rtant role given to youth. In his message to the nation on the occasion of the fifteenth anniversary of the independence of Fiji, on 10 OCtober, my Prime Minister said: ·We have squarely faced and acknowledged the fact of race rather than pretended it does not exist. We do not have numbers of stagnant backwaters "but, rather, strong healthy tributaries coursing vigorously forward to join the broad streams of our national life, each bringing its own special contribution of faith, language, culture and tradition. And, paradoxically, the whole has proved greater than the sum of its parts.- The multicultural base provides the diversity and variety which enrich our society. In this context, youth are encouraged to play an active role in the· process of nation-building as a force towards cohesion and adaptability for the future. As the future custodians of cultural values and traditions that previde stability for society, youth are given an early role and are closely involved in cultural activities. We share with many other countries the modern ills of moral permissiveness, , rising drug abuse, alcoholism, increasing crime and teenage pregnancies. But the problems of youth cannot be viewed or dealt with in isolation. They are symptoms of a wider problem affecting society as a whole. Solutions must therefore address the whole problem, of which those relating to youth are a part. In this process, the youth themselves must be fully involved in considering and devising solutions. While we agree that international action can contribute in tackling these problems, my delegation believes that action at the national level must first be (Mr. Browne, Fiji) intensified since that is where the real origin~ lie. It is in recognition of this fact th~t my Governuent has devised specific programses to ~nsure all-round development of our youth to Eke possible their participation in the development in Fiji. we take particular care i~ inculcating in our youth the traditions and values of our society. we feel that this will be IlOre important in the long run than any generalized global stra~gy. We believe that international bodies can help considerably by encouraging complementary global support and action in favour of youth. It is a recognized fact that a country's most valuable resource is its people, and the future of its people is in its youth. That is why in most countries, including my own, Cl large portion of the national budget is devoted to advancing youth through national education programmes and informal education activities. An investment in today's youth is an investment in the country's future. That philosophy underpins our programmes and is at the core of our education system. It links together the multitude of activities in which our school-leavers and youth organizations are engaged. Formal school programmes and informal and non-formal youth programmes are, in my delegation's opinion, inseparable parts of the one whole. The aim is to make possible participants in these programmes to increase their own self-prospects and, through them, participate and contribute more effectively to the better realization and fulfilment of the nation's development objectives in the social, economic and political fields. My delegation believes that this COnference can make a useful contribution by adopting an integrated approach and taking account of the inseparability of school and out-of-school youth programmes. Indeed, this should not be hard to accomplish as the theme -Participation, Development, Peace- is central to any normal school teaching programme reinforced through meaningful, (Mr. Browne, Fiji) The seeds of self.-reliance, perseverance, hard work, . practic~l activities. tolerance and respect for others sown in those formal school programmes should translate easily and effectively into Qut-of-school and non-formal youth programmes in both the urban and rural sectors. Having said that, my delegation is not unaware of the difficulties inherent in the choice that young men and women have to make in their transition from school to the world of work. In fact it is a very difficult oneJ it means that after spending so many years in the school system he or she has to start from the bottom again. It is a new beginning, a new starting point for a life that is yet to be lived. That is why it is so.vitally important that the choice is rational and right, since upon it will depend the quality of that life. Many young people become a burden on society through no fault of their own. Very often they are what and where they are because of the lack of imaginative planning. Our aim must be to avoid that happening, and this Conference can make a constructive beginning by recommending programmes that will assist Members in linking their formal education program~s with the informal and non-formal ones outside the school system. My Government has created a Department of Youth and Sports to stimulate the development of youth and generally look after the interests of youth, in and-out of school. Informal training schemes in rural areas and have been formal training programmes run by institutions have been set up to cater for skills in urban areas, geared towards encouraging self-reliance, self-sufficiency, community awareness and, most important, responsibility. Some noteworthy developments that have taken place in my country in the field of youth during the 15 years since our independence include the setting up of over 100 youth councils and more than 1,000 youth clubs throughout the country. In (Mr. Browne, Fiji) addition 500 more youth clubs affiliated to the National Youth Organization have been set up in urban centres. The Fiji National Youth Coun~il has organized numerous seminars on youth and politic~, community development and family planning. In 1982 the Council organized and hosted the lOth Asia-Pacific Youth Forum in in Suva, our capital, which was attended by delegates from throughout Asia and the Pacific. A regional workshop during International Youth Year was held in June and attended by participants from 11 Pacific Island countries. Last year the Fiji National Youth Council, together with some United Nations agencies, conducted programmes in family life education in various districts of the country. The Fiji National Youth Council is represented by 35 member organizations from throughout the country with a total membership of over 100,000 young people. We recognize that youth are the· future of humanity. We are conscious of the vital role that young people can play in constructing a permanent and meaningful peace for all·peoples of the world. In conclusion, I wish to take this opportunity to express my delegation's appreciation of the WOrk of the youth Year secretariat of the centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs and the Advisory Committee for their untiring efforts over the past few years preparing for this Conference. Mr. RAMAKRISHNAN (India): Before I turn to the subject under consideration today, I wish, on behalf of the Indian delegation, to express our deep sorrow and anguish at the enormous tragedy that has befallen the people of Colombia. We mourn the loss of the thousands of lives that have been so cruelly snatched away by nature's fury. On behalf of the Government and people of India, I extend our heartfelt sympathies to the members of the bereaved families and to the Government and people of Colombia. (Mr. Browne, Fiji) This world Conference on youth has been made possible by the collective efforts of all Member States. May I express our ejratitude to the Advisory Co.nttee, the different United Nations bodies and other non-governmental organizations for their untiring efforts in bringing youth issues and related probl.ems to the forefront of world attention. This Conference gives us an opportunity to assess and reflect on the role and responsibility of youth the world over. We are all aware of the keen interest taken by the Romanian delegation in this subject, and I extend to that delegation and, through it, to the Chairman of the Advisory Committee, our warm congratulations. I am particularly happy that agenda item 89. on youth il; being taken up by the United Nations in the week in which falls the birthday of one of the world's great statesmen and India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, whose birthday was only yesterday. Pandit Nehru had a vision of a strong and vibrant India whose foundations depended on its youth, who were, and are, inspired by the ideals of patriotism and freedom, non-violence and peace, enunciated by no less a person than Mahatma Gandhi. Nehru's love for children and youth were proverbial, so much so that we in India observe 14 November every year as Children's Day, and it is the children of yesterday who are the youth of today. We recognize the profound importance of the direct participation of youth in shaping the future, and the valuable contr ibutions that they can make in the implementation of a new international economic order based on equity and justice. Young people in different regions of the world are participating actively in innovative and practical initiatives, seeking to come to terms wi th the ir problems and challenges, which are in fact those of contemporary society. Their efforts to make themselves heard and their sentiments concerning a more just future to achieve the objectives of participation, development and peace need to be not only encouraged, but practically aided at all levels, by all forms of co-operative action - executive, legal and developmental. The social implications of global economic tendencies have been extremely baneful in many parts of the world. The social cost of economic adjustments to recession have been very high and even onerous for developing countries. adjustments have had a general contractionary effect, and the biggest squeeze has "1 been on social investments. Most countries are fast approaching the limits of contractionary adjustment; import levels cannot"be further reduced without dangerous consequences - economic, social and even political. In almost one out of every four developing countries per capita output has fallen in the last four years, and open unemployment has reached unusually high levels. The result has been much hardship for economically weaker sections of the population; herein lies the significance of those global economic trends for the situation of youth, particularly since an overwhelming majority of young people live in the less developed regions of the world. The world youth population today stands at 922 million, and is expected to exceed 1 billion by 1990. Demographic profiles in document' A/40/64 point to an inrease in the absolute number of young people, particularly in the less developed regions of the world. As active agents in the process of social change, their co-operation is required to overcome the economic and social er isis • . . We welcome the guidelines for further planning and s .....itable follow-up in the field of youth, contained in document A/40/256. They are indeed" comprehensive and provide a valuable conceptual framework for future activities covering a number of different sectors in which action needs to be taken at the national, regional and international levels. Those prOpOsals deserve the most careful consideration of Member States. My Government will study the guidelines with the attention they deserve in order to determine the applicability of the provisions in relation to our specific conditions, experiences and priorities. Even at this stage, I can state that we completely agree with the recommendations of the guidelines that the primary responsibility for the (Mr. Ramakrishnan, India) These -" individual countries themselves. In order to help young people play an active role in society, it is necessary to implement operational programmes and national support policies aimed at encouraging initiatives by young people themselves. We attach particular importance to education, both traditiol?al and vocational, and its relationship to gainful employment, with the aim of integrating youth in rural and urban areas into productive work and meaningful activity. Other significant policies should involve increasing support for youth activities and exchanges, democratization of education systems, and introducing the young to new technologies to enable them to use better productive methods and encourage their participation in the decision-making process. Those measures will necess5rily have to be undertaken by Governments, universities and institutes as well as non-governmental youth organizations. We in India put special emphasis on issues relating to youth, as we believe that youth constitutes the most crucial segment of our population, not only numerically but also from the point of view of development. The reason for this approach is not far to seek. The youth po~u.i.ation in the age group 15-35 in my country is more than one third of the total population.' The last census estimated the total population in that age group at more than 200 million, which gives an idea of the magnitude of'the problem that we have to contend with in India. In my own country a large number of programmes were devised and undertaken in connection with International Youth Year, which was launched by our youthfUl Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, on 12 January 1985, marking the beginning of the celebrations of International Youth Year in our country. That was followed by a National Youth Forum of Youth for Unity and National Integration, which directed itself to the recommendations made in earlier national-level seminars on aspects, prOblems.and challenges faced by youth. We also organized an international seminar in India, in February 1985, on youth and humanitarian unity. Several exhibitions were also organized to create a sense of awareness of youth activities, focusing on the vital Contribution they can make in the overall social, economic and cultural de-I1elopment of the nation. Several sports festivals involving rural youth and ycung girls were organized in different parts of our country. A National Youth Award Sd!~me has been introduced to recognize aJ'!,d rewa~d youth for outstanding contr ibutions in different areas. Construction of more youth hostels to promote international youth ~ourism is ~lso being undertaken. There have been several other participatory activities, and we should be happy to share our experience with any interested delegation. We have tried to devise special programmes to ensure all-round development of the youth poP':llat.~:J.' and to facilitate their participation in the developmental and decision-making r;.'ocess. We have formulated and implemented a number of youth acti~ities and programmes for involving youth in nation-building activities and to promote secularism and national integration. Such programmes are undertaken at the governmental as well as non-governmental levels. They include the National Service SCheme for prOViding education through community services; the National Service Volunteer Scheme for providing opportunities for students to involve themselves in nation-building actigities; the National Cadet Corps to develop qualities of leadership, character, comradeship, spirit of sportsmanship and the ideal of service; Nehru Yuvak Kendras, which have been established in as many as 400 identified areas in the country, for co-ordinating the activities of various agencies in prOViding opportunities to non-student youth for their development and for their involvement in various programmes of national development; programmes for the promotion of national integratiun aimed at facilitating the exchange of visits by ,young people living in different States with marked cultural differences; and financial assistance to voluntary organizations working on programmes and areas relating to youth, among many others. (Mr. Ramakrishnan, India) India also participates in internatiC?J1al youth programmes, suc:h as the Commonwealth Youth" Programme and the United Nations Volunteers Progranne. We also prov~de for international exchanges of youth delegations "under bilateral agreements. India is also the host of the Non-Aligned Conference of Youth, whic:h opens in New Delhi on 19 November and in whic:h a large nu~er of delegations , exceeding 70, are expected to participate•. The areas covered under the different national progralll1'les to which I have ;o:eferred, include education and recreation, health, family welfare and nutritional programmes; social service pr9CJrammes, which include work with" organizations of child welfare and in institutions for the physically handicapped, mentally retarded and the aged; programmes aimed at creating awareness of the need for the improvement of the status of women, environment enrichment and conservation; vocational training programmes, non-formal education, sports, games and physical culture and other programmes of work during emergencies such as cyclones, floods and earthquakes. One of the important recommendations of the Advisory Coinmittee was to set up a national co-ordinating oommittee for International Youth Year. I am happy to say that we have already had such a Committee functioning in India since 1970. It is "called the National Youth Board. Its functions include advising the Government on the formulation of a national youth policy, appraisal of ongoing prograumes and providing a forum for co-ordination between departments of the central Government and State Governments and voluntary agencies working for youth development. The problems relating to youth are manifold and complex. Although the situation and problems of youth may vary from country to country, a certain uniformity in the general pattern of those problems can be observed. There are also the specific needs of various sectors and groups, such as young women and rural and urban youth, to be taken into account. The Advisory Committee has \.lone (Mr. Bamakrishnan, India) well· to highlight problems such as unemt;?loyment, rural-urban migration, limited educational and other opportunities, limited access to health care and nutrition, limited scope for physical education and development and other specific areas. While on this subject, I should like to e17.phasize the role that non-governmental and voluntary organizations can play. We have had occasion in the past to commend the work of such. organizations. Our own exper ience with them at the national level has been most satisfactory Md we hope that everything possible' will be done to encourage such activities. In order to avoid duplication and to ensure that the scarce resources available are used to the'maximum possible benefit, it is: extremely important to ensure co-ordination between different agencies and organizations of the united Nations system in youth-related activities. We note and welcome the recommendation that the Commission for Social Development would be the appropriate united Nations body to examine specific youth issues after 1985, in keeping with the goals of International Youth Year. We also agree that the Commdssion should work in close consultation, as appropriate, with Governments, international and non-governmental youth organizations and other United Nations agencies and bodies. The world today is increasingly' threatened by the dark clouds of nuclear war. There is therefore a tremendous responsibility on the youth of today to preserve peace in the world and make it safe for future generations. FOrtunately, I see rays of hope, if the youth of this genel'ation are fully equipped in every way to meet the challenges and prol'lDte the cause of world peace. Given the right lead and the necessary skills, the youth of the whole world can rise as Obe to preserve mankind and earn the gratitude of future generations. (Mr. Ramakrishnan, India) In conclusion, it must be stressed that the interest aroused by International Youth Year and the wide range of activities to which it has given rise have clearly shown that dialogue and international co-operation are vital if practical results are to be achieved. The momentum generated must not cease in 1985. The problems and challenges continue, as does the need for new initiatives. We hope Governments, the united Nations and related bodies, youth organizations and non-governmental organizations will all give special consideration to the implementation of the guidelines for further planning and suitable follow-up. Mrs. LAOHAPHAN (Thailand): At the outset I should like to express, on behalf of the Government of Thailand and the Thai people, our deep sympathy and sincere condolences to· the Government and people of Colombia on the loss of life, the nwnber of persons injured and the enormous destruction caused by the recent volcanic activity of Nevado del Ruiz in Colold;)ia. For that reason my delegation supported the adoption of the resolution on this matter. It is indeed a great honour and priVilege for my delegation to join this historic gathering in the United Nations World Conference for International Youth Year. The designation of 1985 as International Youth Year with the theme: \, Participation, Development, Peace-, by the General Assembly in its resolution 34/151, of 17 December 1979, could not have come at a better time, when the situation of young people throughout the world, whose number is expected to exceed 1 billion by 1990, has become an issue of great concern to all generations. This designation also represents a recognition that, although the internatlonQl community has dealt increasingly with issues affecting youth within its broader context of development, more definitive strategies are needed to realize the full potential of youth. The three themes of International Youth Year, namely, participation, development and peace, are closely interrelated. My delegation considers that participation in the life of one's own society is the birthright of all, regardless of sex, religion or ethnic origin. It is also the essential foundation of responsible citizenship. Constructive' and active participation by the young in all aspects of the life of their respective corAl8luities will contribute to building a better world. Por this reason, young people, who constitute a very large percentage of the population, should be encouraged to contribute all their energies, enthusiasa and creative abilities not only ~ the tasks of national developaent but also to the cause of peace, international co-operation and understanding. This forua has fro. the beginning shown clearly that. young people are willing to participate in promting peace, develop1leJl~ and understanding among people and countries. The iDlpOrtan~ role of young people in their society, their country and their region is evident to all. The world n~~ds youth, as youth needs .the world • On behalf of the Thai delegation and of the youth of Thailand, I would like to express our deep appreciation to the s~retary-General ~f the United Nations, Shuaib Yolah, Under-Secretary-General of the Department of International Economic and Social Affairs and Mr~. Leticia Shahani, Assistant Secretary-General of the Cent~e for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs, for their dedication and praiseworthy efforts in promoting International Youth Year and its activities. International Youth Year has generated world-wide awareness and greater concern for the situation of youth including their aspirations and needs. The year has also provided a useful and significant opportunity for increasing co-operation at the local, national, regional and international levels in order to promote the best educ~tional, professional and living conditions for young people, for undertaking concerted action programmes in favour of youth, and for improving and encouraging participation of young people in the overall development of society. The preparations for and the observance of International Youth Year under the motto "Participation, Development, PeaceR have shown clearly that this opportunity has been utilized. At the national level, governments increasingly recognize the importance of youth and have taken many concrete steps towards improving their conditions. These national efforts have been supported by regional and international programmes and activities. However, there is a manifest need for an adequate follow-up to International Youth Year to ensure that the needs and aspirations of young people remain at the forefront of development efforts. In this connection, my delegation i.'Ihares the views and supports th~ recommendations of the Secretary-General on the need to maintain the present momentum. That could be done by continuity of effort by governments to develop integrated youth policies and to provide adequate infrastructural support. It is also essential that, in order to translate these ~ . (Mrs. Laohaphan, Thailand) national integrated youth policies into action, regional and international support and co-operation should be readily forthcoming. In light of the above, my delegation welcomes the endorsement of the guidelines for further planning and suitable follow-up in the field of youth in document A/40/256, by the Third Committee. My delegation considers these guidelines to be a useful conceptual framework for future activities. Although the situation of youth varies from one country to another, governments have options in implementing the guidelines in accordance with the policies, needs, priorities and interests of their own country. It is the hope of my delegation that these guidelines will be unanimously adopted by this Assembly. As for Thailand, my delegation is pleased to state that we will exert all possible efforts in the implementation of those guidelines, as well as for the consolidation and further building on the results of the International Youth Year. However, for developing countries, their actions and programmes should be supported and complemented, if necessary, by the united Nations as well as other international agencies and non-governmental organizations, particularly in providing assistance, technical or financial, for their successful implementation. With regard to the United Nations Trust Fund for International Youth Year, my delegation wishes to state that, since its inception, the Fund has played a useful and valuable role in supporting activities and programmes for youth all over the world, in partiCUlar, those of the developing countries which have limited resources to finance their own projects. It is therefore the hope of my delegation that the Fund will be continued and augmented to enable it to respond to the growing needs of the developing countries. In this connection, my delegation is pleased to inform the Assembly that the Government of Thailand has recently decided to contribute, as a token of its support, $2,000 to the United Nations Trust Fund for International Youth Year. In joining with previous speakers in observance of the united Nations World Conference for the International Youth Year, my delegation would like to take this opportunity to state briefly the activities that Thailand has undertaken to celebrate the year. As a country whose population comprises a large proportion of the younger age brackets, Thailand has co-operated closely with the united Nations agencies in matters concerning youth through its national agencies and has supported all constructive activities initiated by the united Nations in relation to youth issues, in particular, its General Assembly resolutions 34/151 and 36/28, which designated 1985 as International Youth Year and endorsed the specific Programme of Measures and Activities to be undertaken prior to and during the year. In this regard, a National Co-ordinating Committee for International Youth Year chaired by a Minister of the Prime Minister's Office was established in 1981 to administer all youth-related programmes and to make the necessary arrangements for and carry on the commemoration according to the objectives of the year. This national Co-ordinating Committee has approved two types of programmes. These are the special programme components, to be implemented during the year, and the .regular programmes to which special emphasis is given according to the policies outlined in the pifth National Economic and Social Development Plan by the relevant n~tional agencies during th~ year. As of today several hundreds of youth development projects have already been carried out for Thai youth by 96 government and private ~gencies. Besides these regular programmes, my delegation would like to touch upon some of the 15 special programmes which have been implemented or are being implemented by goyernment and private agencies and with the full co-operation of youth, namely: evaluation of policy and a long-term. plan for youth developmentJ the collection and analysis of data on youth developmentJ youth activities in connection with International Youth Year at the provincial level, the campaign for the improvement of literacy among the youth, production of articles for broadcasting promoting family relationsJ television programmes for youthJ production of radio spots for youth development in various aspectsJ youth service to society and community, the International Salon of Photography for International Youth YearJ organization of a seminar on the role of youth in the national economic development, and establishment of the Foundation for Youth Development Fund. At the regional level, the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), consisting of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, agreed to assign the task of organizing the ASEAN Youth Productivity Festival to my country, and the festival was held in Thailand from 25 October to 3 November of this year. The festival included seminars, exhibitions and study tours of goods produced by the young in various fields such as handicrafts, agricultural ~nd industrial products. At the international level, Thailand has organized an International Youth Photographic Contest £rom March to November, 1985. Moreover, during the Year, the Thai youth have actively pa~ticipated in several international and regional conferences related to youth. In conclusion, the above events and activities reflect clearly the desire of the Government of Thailand to encourage and to promote the development of youth to achieve the goals and objectives of International Youth Year (1985): participation, development and peace. (Mrs. Laohaphan, Thailand) Mr. GLAIEL (Syr ian Arab Rep.1blic) (interpretation from Arabic) : I wish at the outset to express in the name of the people and GoVernment of the Syrian Arab Republic our deep sorrow OITet the tragedy that has befallen the people of Colombia. I wish to express our solidarity with them during their ordeal. The United Nations World Conference for the International Youth Year coincides with the fortieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, this ~ganization on which the hopes of generations have been pinned. A look back at the last 40 years will be replete with the bitterness experienced by peoples as a result of the scourges of colonial and exploitative wars and policies, and will be poignantly remini~cent of the frustration that afflicted those peoples. A look ahead, as we are marking this International Youth Year, will fill our hearts wi th hope for the future, whose mainstay today is youth. In comparing the past to the future in relation to the present, it is incumbent upen us, if indeed we want to redress mistakes, avoid shortcomings and bridge the gaps created by QOnditions of economic backwardness in most of the countries of the world, to accord young people the care they deserve to enable them to play their role in forging ahead to a better future in the world. Youth by its very nature constitutes a permanent social category that is particularly vulnerable to the changes that come over the contemporary world. They react to such changes in a characteristic manner. The importance and potential of young people as a social category are incontrovertible facts, at least because of their numerical weight. What is noteworthy, in addition to that, ,is the fact that more than two-thirds of the younger generation live in developing countries. Their " problems are nU1l!erous in all aspects of the life of those countries. They are victims of armed conflicts and they are more vulnerable to economic deterioration, with its implications for their employment opportunities and their educational, health and housing conditions. Young people in general are the victims of drug production and trafficking. Those who live in the least developed countries lead unbearable lives which further impede their developaent and liait their ability to play an active role in society. Moreover, the problellS that affect young people include uneJllPloyaent, hunger, malnutrition, discriaination in education, lack of housing and shelter, deterioration of the environment, inadequate health care and limited access to their cultural heritage. We cannot but paw;e and ponder in this respect the major dilemma facing a good portion of the younger generation, that is, their life under occupation conditions, that occupation which by its very nature singles them out because they are qUalified violently to- resist it, challenge it and rebel against the oppressive and arbitrary laws it enacts. Complete participation in the life of the society to which the individual belongs is a birthright; it is also the basis of responsible citizenship. If genuine and complete participation is to be realized and to be constructive, young people should be enab~ed to participate in the decision-making process which affects them, in order to implement the decisions arrived at with pleasure and interact wi th them. As for developnent, it would be diminished if it did not embrace complete consideration of the needs of the individual in general and the needs of youth in particular. Developaent should take place through br idging social and economic gaps and the imbalance in the world. It should be on the basis of the right of each country to choose the economic and social system it desires in the light of its conditions, its potential and the requirements of all segments of ite. population. Hence, the task of proooting full employment, vocational training and the continuation of a youth education policy, as well as ensuring protection against discrimination and grappling with the obstacles that are placed in the (Mr. Glaiel, Syrian Arab Republic) way of youth job opportunities, is of vital ~rtance if we want to achieve complete development in all spheres and for young people in particular. As for 'the maintenance of peace, the participation of young people in this process is of paramount importance, as in their proper preparation to make sacrifices and defend human values. Peace is not simply the absence of war, it is rather social harmony and the elimination of all aspects of discrimination. This cannot be ensured at present unless democratic societies throughout the world are ready to pay the price of deterring aggression. International Youth Year has disclosed the ~xtent of the younger generations·s. preparedness and keenness to' participate in societ~, which has highlighted continuing activities in the field of youth. This is part and parcel of the process of implementing the guidelines to continue activities in the field of youth. The three goals of participation, development and peace are closely inter1inked and form an indivisible whole. They are perfectly interdependentI there is no peace without development, no development without peace, and no participation without peace. Proceeding from this premise, society should provide adequate conditions to achiev~ these objectives through the final elimination of colonialism, nee-colonialism, fascism and all manifestations of racism, be it zionism, apartheid or foreign aggression and occupation. In the developing . countries young pe~ple are in the vanguard, they have assumed the leadership of national liberation movements. This is required by the conditions in those countries. Youth has played a pioneering role in our country since the 8 March Revolution with its socialist approach. They were enabled to participate in the building of a new society character,ized by the resolve to make full use - in a scientific and objective manner- of all the potential and capacity of society, and particularly those of youth. The establishment of the Revolutionary Youth Organization, its (Mr. G1aiel, Syrian Arab Republic) develo~t and resolve to strengthen its effectiveness, vas a JIOSt: iaportant acbieveaent and requireant to aeet the needs of our socie~ and enrich the course of our life. This tlrganization has dealt effectively with the dlallenges and hardships which our country experienced. AJIong the. were the conditions brought about by repeated Israeli acts of aggression. In the Syrian Arab Republic young people are participating with effectiveness and responsibility in innovative and pcactical initiatives to face their problellS and other- challenges. Republic) They have always participated in the defence of the territory of their homeland. They are ready to increase their efforts for the achievement of greater participation in the march towards construction, development and peace. They wish to voice their points of view about a fJJture in which there would be more justice, a future in which they could achieve the goals that comprise the motto of International Youth Year: ·Participation, Development, Peacew• In conclusion, this is an appropriate occasion to express the attitude of our leadership in the Syrian Arab Republic towards youth. In that regard, I would quote the following from an address made by our ~resident, Hafez Al-Assad, to the opening meeting of the Fourth General Youth Conference, in which he spoke to the young people there about the programme of work for the next phase: ·You are the main tools for the creation of the future. You represent the bright future. You represent the element of success and victory in all the battles of the homeland. The generation of youth has its unique qualities. There is a world-wide recognition of this today. Many studies have been conducted in an attempt to find solutions to the problems of youth. Those attempts differ in direction and effectiveness from place to place. They succeed when they are based on justice, dignity and equality; they fail when they are aimed at domination, aggression and exploitation. The consideration of negative issues should be based on a broader understanding of the problems of the people, and youth represent the main force and future edifice of the people's future. The sense of direction of youth should emanate from the principles of the nation and should be closely linked to the needs of the people. We are facing economic, political and military challenges, and the challenges of occupation by usurpers and settlers, as well as general colonialism." (Mr. Glaiel, Syrian Arab Republic) Mr. SAIGNAVONGS (Lao People's Democratic Republic) (interpretation from French): At the outset, my delegation wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to the delegation of Colombia on the tragic event that has struck its country, causing enormous human and material loss. Since we are conside~ing here today the item on International Youth Year, my delegation would also ask the delegation of Colombia to transmit to the Colombian Youth Organization the sympathy of the Lao Youth Organization. It is significant that the international community is observing Internati~nal Youth Year - with the motto: "Participation, Development, Peace" - in 1985, a year in which we are commemorating several historic events: the fortieth anniversary of the victory over the forces of fascism and militarism,' the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations and the twenty=fifth anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial COuntries and Peoples, to mention only a few. And the fact that the General Assembly, as a World Conference, is devoting several meetings of this historic session to this item shows that the international community attaches particular importance to the role of youth in today's world and to youth's demands for the world of tomorrow. But it might be useful to draw the attention of young people to the fact that the Second World War - unleashed by fascism and militarism - caused the death of 50 million persons, most of them in the prime of their lives. For that might help youth to unQe~stand better the tragic test to which their elders were put. Similarly, it is important to let them know that, in establishing the United Nations, the peoples of the united Nations, in the very first words of the Charter, proclaimed their determination to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of warn. For that might contribute to disseminating the ideals of peace and justice among the youth of today.* * Mr. Bepburn (Bahamas), Vice-President, took the Chair. Moreover, it would be useful to make youth aware of the difficulties and obstacles facing the deco1onization process because colonialism continues to afflict some parts of the world. For that would certainly contribute to arousing or developing in youth a respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as a spirit of solidarity with oppre&sed peoples. It is generally agreed that a nationlls future belongs to its youth. Indeed, youth is the living force or, if you will, the backbone of the nation. Thus, youth must be involved in the consideration and solution of major national problems. The theme ·Participation, Development, Peace- expresses very well the specific needs and aspirations of the young generation in society, of which it is one of the constituent elements -·needs and aspirations which Governments must take into account in formulating their policies for youth. Participation in national development and in the struggle for international peace is youth's two-fold t63k - domestic and international. At the domestic level, the active participation of youth in the nation's economic and social development, at all stages - from the stage of decision to that of implementation - must be promoted. Young people must be encouraged to devote their energy, their enthusiasm and their creatiVity to the tasks of national construction. But all those requirements would be useless if, for their part, the young people did not have adequate conditions in the areas of education and professional and material life. But these conditions are not accessible or offered to all young people, especially in the least-developed countries, with limited means. Nevertheless, we need not pity the youth of those countries too much, for at least they have a homeland. What about Palestinian youth, which has no other horizons than the refugee camps or their occupied homeland? What about the black youth of South Africa, the victim of apartheid and depriVed of the most elementary (Mr. SaignBvongs, Lao People's Democratic Republic) I'UJMn rights? What about Naibian youth. deprived of its rights and fundaJlental freeaa.s and living under the occupation and oppression of the racist Pr6toria r6gt.e? Those young people have never had the possibility or the opportunity of putting their energy and their creAtivity tQ use. except in their struggle against the oppressor - a struggle that we firaly support. At the international level. the task of youth is just as i8pOrtant. The present tense international situation. which is complex and fraught with the danger of nuclear war. is a ujor concern of young people. because experience has shown that if conflicts break out. they are always the first victims. Democratic Republic) For this reason, in the present circumstances young people must participate actively, as they have been doing, in the struggle to maintain inte~nat!onal peace and secu~ity, to promote detente, to end the arms race, both on Earth and in space, and to bring about general and complete disarmament under effective international control and eliminate the danger of nuclear war. Young people should also strive, ~ether with progressive young people of other countries, to promote understanding and international co-operation and to establish a more just and democratic international economic order. With regard to young people's activities connected with co-operation and international exchanges, we believe that the United Nations system should continue to make its contribution. In this respect, my delegation believes that the guidelines for further planning and suitable follow-up in the field of youth set forth by the Advisory Committee for the International Youth Year are well balanced. In general, they are in line with the policy of my Government with regard to Lao youth, in that they are designed to improve the situation of young people, protect their rights and interests and ensure their active participation in ) the process of economic and social development. Indeed, in our country the Lao youth, united under the banner of the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union, play an important role in our new society and participate on an equal footing and with the same rights as other Lao citizens in the tasks of national defence and construction. During the 30 years of the national liberation war against colonialism and imperialism the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth showed great courage and self-sacrifice. Most of our young people, those now aged 16 to 29, were born among the flames of that war and have experienced its tragedy. Consequently, like all the Lao people, they have no other aspirations than to live in peace and (Mr. Saignavongs, Lao People's Democratic Republic) understanding with their neighbours regardless of their political or social regimes. In adai~iufi, faithful to our foreign policy of peace~ friendship and co-operation with all countries, our party and Government have taught our young people the ideals of peace, liberty, justice, patriotism, internationalism, mutual respect and understanding between peoples. Thus, motivated by these ideals and principles, the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth support the youth of socialist countries and the progressive youth of other countries in the world in their struggle to maintain and strengthen international peace and security, to elUninate the danger of nuclear war, to halt the arms race, and to promote disarmament and the demilitarization of space. In this respect it supports the "peace initiatives of the soviet Onion and the other members of the Warsaw Treaty Organization, and it particularly welcomes the proclamation by the soviet union of a moratorium on nuclear tests, and its proposals to reduce strategic nuclear weapons by half. Similarly, it expresses its militant solidarity with the revolutionary Sandinist youth in its courageous fight in the undeclared war and economic blockade imposed·on Nicaragua by aggressive imperialist circles. It firmly supports the struggle of oppressed peoples against colonialism, neo-colonialisID, imperialism, racism, zionism, apartheid and all forms of foreign domination. and on behalf of national independence, sovereignty, human rights and fundamental freedoms, justice, social progress and sovereignty over their natural resources. In the area of international activities, the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth continue to extend relations with other. youth organizations of the socialist and f~iendly countries. Exchanges have been arranged in the area of cultural, artistic and sports activities with several youth organizations in the socialist countries• (Mr. Saignavonqs, Lao People's Democratic Republic) Recently the Lao Peopl~'s Revolutionary Youth participated actively in the 12th World Festival of Youth and Students, held in Moscow. This was an important event for young people because it enabled representatives of the young people of all countries, with different political traditions and opinions, to meet in a climab~ of friendship and joy and to exchange their views on the main problems of international life today. In spite ef their differences, they oid agree on one thing, and that was to continue together the struggle for social jtiatice, genuine liberty and peac~. Although International Youth Year is coming to an end, much remains to be done to achieve its aimso My delegation ventures to hope that the United Nations and its specializ~J agencies, encouraged by this Conference, will continue tirelessly to mobilize the efforts of States in order to improve the situation of youth in an international climate of peace and mutual trust. The International Year of Peace which has just been proclaimed will undoUbtedly make a useful contribution to that end. Mr. NTAKBWANA (Botswana): On behalf of my delegation I wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Colombia in their hour of grief. Designating 1985 as International Youth Year is definitely an opportunity for countries to focus attention on all the needs of this important group of people, youth, and also to give recognition to the major role which they can play in trying to create a more just and peaceful world. Today, youth makes up about 20 per cent of the world's population. In Botswana alone, a small country of about one million people, youtb constitutes 32 per cent of the population according to the 1981 national census. In this world of diverse political and social conditions, young people undoubtedly form a Democratic Republic) community which sbares the common ideal of peace and a common involvement in the fulfilment of human needs. It is particularly significant that International Youth Year is celebr~t~ this year, the fortieth anniversary of the united Nations, an Organization which was established for the achievement of those same goals. It is our hope that the principles of the united Nations Charter will serve as a guide for the youth of today so that they can be more'capable leaders of tomorrow. Our youth is confronted with a multitude of problems. This goes for youth throughout the world. In Africa, for instance, this is more pronounced because of the current economic crisis. Millions of people are in danger of dying from hunger and thirst. Young people suffer directly or indirectly the consequences of this situation. Their future is bleak. The crisis has become more intense during the past few years as a result of natural disasters such as drought, desertification, famine and others. Ther~ is no doubt that youth unemployment is similarly a major. problem today. We all know that youth unemployment is the cause of such unhappy situations as prostitution, juvenile delinquency, crime, drug addiction and the like. My country, Botswana, like BlOst other developing countries, faces the problem of urban migration. Some young people migrate to the fast-developing cities because in rural areas they c;mnot obtain well-paying jobs and, besides, they figure that life in the urban areas is more exciting. Of course they often realize - too late - that it is not so. The Government of Botswana is trying to solve this problem at the national, regional and, most of all, village level. At this point, I would like to mention that, in the spirit of promoting the objectives of International Youth Year, my Government has formUlated some measures to be carried out throughout 1985 and beyond in the form of programmes and activities - that is, the plan of action. Some of these measures are the following: first, the provision of. specialized training based on market demand~ secondly the improvement of the quality and creativity of youth products to make them marketable~ so as to request market protection from the Government through the use of appropriate skills and materials~ thirdly, the encouragement of youth t-o take par't in different kinds of competition, in such fields as handicrafts, a,rts, sports and so on, and with an awards scheme fer presentation to the winnersJ fourthly, the holding of conferences, seminars, panel discussions and interviewsJ fifthly, family life discussions and proglrammesJ and, sixthly, open discussions on cultural and tribal attitudes towards yOllth. All the above-mentioned programmes and activities have been successfully implemented. The lack of participation of our youth in development is a major problem. We shoul~ keep in mind that the thr~e different kinds of participation - political, economic and social, as clearly outlined in the Secretary-General's report A/40!b4 - a~e interdepend~'t. Political participation is the most crucial and sensith'e because it involves power distribution. The older generation usually misinterprets the suggestions and demands of young people. Students are often the most vulnerable group. Economic participation, on the other hand, has to do with the involvement of people, both old and young, in their work management and in the ~harlng of the outcome or profits. The problem faced by youth here ls that they form a working section or group which is usually not consulted in job activities or decisions. This tends to frustrate young people and at times leads to violence. Finally, social participation can often be observed ~n the young people's immediate communities. with the fast changes of traditional norms, young people are left to themselves to solve their own problems. They are often forced to get closer to their peer groups or other groups so as to seek solutions, and in most cases the outcome of this association does not solve the problem. It is therefore the responsibility of our individual Governments to set up a line of communication which will close the gap between the old and the young. While reviewing the results of International Youth Year, we should not lose sight of the educational aspect. UndOUbtedly the majority of Governments have worked, and are working, tirelessly to improve youth education, regardless of sex, creed or religion. But in some developing countries, particularly those in the African continent, we still witness a school enrolment of girls which is lower than that of boys. Owing to traditional cultural influences, some young women never pven enter the world of formal education. Some of the young girls are left behind, so to speak, because they have to take care of babies which they had while at primary or secondary school levels. All the same, it is encouraging to note that quite a number of African Governments have made considerable efforts to provide for the needs of young women by creating non-formal educational and training programmes. Botswana has a section on non-formal education attached to the Ministry of Education, which has helped a number of young women in addition to young men and adults. (Hr. Ntakhwana, Botswana) As a result of the tireless efforts of the United Nations as well as its other bodies and specialized agencies! we observe some positive results of International Youth Year. One of these results is the greater interest, awareness and involvement in peace by the younger generation today. Some Governments and individuals have played a major role in this ar~a. This is indeed encouraging because the young of today are our leaders of tomorrow. For them to assume leadership in this complex world, there should be peace. It is therefore sad to note that our youth today still finds itself exposed to the danger of a nuclear arms race, which is a threat to its well-being and to its hopes for the future. The same applies to the media, which are supposed to be a guide and a form of education for our youth, but which instead are infested with violence, and the young people are directly affected. Botswana has always attached great importance to peace and this is why we are pleased that one of the themes of the International Youth Year is peace. For ours is a region in t~rmoil. We cannot ignore the upheaval now threatening peace in southern Africa because of apartheid and racism. As recently as June of this year, in the middle of our celebration of International Youth Year, South African commandos invaded our peaceful capital, where they murdered refugees and.citizens of our country in,cold blood. Some of the victims were innocent, helpless young people, one of whom was a six-year-old boy. In South Africa itself, youth is the most vulnerable g~cup, owing to the evil system of apartheid. The whole world shudders at the daily reports of crimes perpetrated by the South Africa regime against men, women and, most of all, young people. It is the young people of South Africa who confront the murderous guns of the Pretoria regime~ It is they on whose shoulders the liberation of South Africa has fallen. We support them in their glorious struggle. (Mr. Ntakhwana, Botswana) Before conclu4ing my statement, I W'ould like to reit~rate that my delegation and the people of Botswana attaeb great importance to International Youth Year. We strongly believe that there should be stronger channels of communication between the United Nations and youth, and youth organizations in the world at large. Finally, this year's International Youth Year has constituted an important factor for further sensitizing the world's young to the ideals of participation, development and peace. We therefore urge the United Nations and its bodies, organizations, Governments and individuals to continue to assist the youth of the world in the pursuit of these ideals and in' the fulfilment of their aspirations. The end of 1985 should be not the end of International Youth Year but the beginning of other youth years. (Hr. Ntakhwana, BotsWl!!!!) Mr. CERMAK (Austria); I should like first to express Austria's profound sympathy with regard to the natural disaster that occurred in Colonbia yesterday. The Government and people of Austr ia are deeply shocked and my Government is at present considering ways and means to help the people in Colonbia who have suffered such terrible losses. The United Nations is an extremely diverse Organization dealing with an abundance of different issues; from Peace-keeping to the law of the sea, from the role of women in developnent to the Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination - the list would be practically endless. The problem that Member States are faced with is selecting priorities, ab it is obviously impossible to give all issues the same attention simUltaneously. The year 1985 has been chosen as International Youth Year - the United Nations World Conference for International Youth Year is at present in session. The main themes of International Youth Year; Participation, Development and Peace, reflect the different priorities and political values of the various United Nations Member States. On the other hand, the three themes are interdependent and none of them can be disregarded in any political system. The celebration of these events has been decided by the international community by consensus and United Nations Member States must have had a very good reason for doing so. What was it that guided and motivated governments to highlight the issue of - young people at this point? One actually quite obvious reason is the impressive nul'li>er of people we are referring to when we talk about youth. In 1984 the youth population - for statistical purposes defined by the United Nations as persons between 15 and 2;4 years of age - amounted to over 900 million people, or alroost 20 per cent of the world's population. In other words, as we are speaking today, we are addressing ourselves to about one-fifth of the world's population and, even more importantly, to those who will shape the world of tomorrow. We bear an important responsibility in this regard: not only must we support them to cope with the complex world of today, we must prepare them also for the time to come. It is therefore important to include young people in the process of decision-making at an early stage•. Even if ideas and proposals of young people seem at times, at first glance, a bit unrealistic and far-fetched, adults should not simply be quick to reject them, labeling them from the start as out of touch with reality, or even WorSI;l, mock at them. If it is riot the young generation that has idealistic ideas, who else should? We frequently urge a dialogue among nations, even or particularly when contrasting, or opposing views prevail. A dialogue between generations is just as important. It certainly may not always be easy to establish and to maintain such a dialogue, but both sides have to show a sense of co-operation and flexibility. There is, however, a special responsibility of the adult generation which at times proudly refers to its wisdom and its life experience•. If such a dialogue cannot be established and young people are not in a position to participate in the process of decision-making, the reaction of young people frequently wiil be frustration, disinterest, protest and even violence. All these reactions are very unfortunate and, in the first cases, a waste of opportunities, in the latter, of energy. International Youth Year and this Conference will not solve all these problems, but what they certainly will do is create a certain awareness with regard to the role of young people in our society. In more than 150 countries, national committees for International Youth Year have been establip~ed. All these committees have an important task to perform and it is the sincere hope of my Government that these committees will not consider their task completed by 31 December 1985. International Youth Year must not necessarily end after 365 days. This time-frame was chosen for technical reasons - attention to young people cannot be limited to one year. (Mr. Cermak, Austria) Let me at this point briefly refer to a par1:icular concern of my Government which is being considered within the framework of International Youth Year - youth unemployment. We are very grateful that the Secretary-General in his opening statement on 13 November 1985, as well as many delegations, referred to this problem. Austria, during the present sesaion of the General AsseRb1y, brought forward an initiative closely ocnnected with the second theme of International International Youth Year - development. Twenty-four Member States sponsored the Austrian resolution entitled ·Opportunities for youth·, the majority of them being developing countries. We are satisfied that it has been recognized that youth uneJlp10yment is a matter of· serious concern in various regions of our globe. We are preparing for an international competition where youth employment projects should be designed and submitted. We are looking for governments and private organizations or enterprises as sponsors for promising projects in this field. OUr aim is to find support for young people in all parts of the world; but in particular in Africa, Latin America and Asia. In our preparation for this international symposium, which is to be held in Vienna in early 1987, we have to keep in mind that we ought to produce results, especially as young people to whom we are addressing ourselves view with suspicion the delivery· of lengthy statements in the united Nations. , We therefore hope that experts and youth representatives from ·many countries could look into the various aspects of youth employment together. We should also look into the matter of financing new employment opportunities and perhaps even get a few projects started. This symposium may only be considered a small contribution to the follow-up of Internationa1 Youth .Year. we do believe that there is an ongoing need for continued co-operation and increased co-ordination among governments as well as among the various united Nations offices and agencies concerned with youth. It is (Hr. Cerlllak, Austria) obvious that it is the task of governments to implement the results of International Youth Year. In this context, however, the united Nations secretariat - and within the Secretariat it will be the youth unit of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs - will have an important role to play. The effort.: has to be aeollbined one - united Nations Secretariat and MeiIber States - in order succes~fully to prepare our young people who will lead the world into the next millenium. Mrs. KOZAKOU-iomROOULLIS (Cyprus): I should like at the outset to express, on behalf of the Government and people of Cyprus, our deepest sympathy at . - the tragic consequences of the volcanic activity of Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia, which caused enormous loss of life and untold destruction to the people of the friendly country of Colombia. There is no doubt that all societies, irrespective of their social, economic or political -systems, consider youth as the continuation of their historical process as well as the link between their past, their present and their future. Youth has always represented the hope and the security for the future and its invaluable role in the shal>ing of the future of humankind has always, more or less, been recognized. The !nte~national community! by designating 1985 as -International Youth Year: Participation, Development, Peace-, has recognized the need for the cultivation and promotion among youth of the ideals and principles of peace, human solidarity, justice, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the dignity and worth of the human person. It has also recognized the need for young people to devote themselves to the global goal of development, progress and prosperity for all through participation at an early stage in all possible spheres of society·s structure. Only through active participation can the young people of the world be enabled to get the necessary experience of situations and problems eXisting in their societies, to identify areas of potential change and to acquire the means which are essential to preparing them and rendering them capable of responsibly assuming their role in life. At all times young persons have been asked to sacrifice their lives for freedom, national independenc.e and justice, and they continue to do so. Thousands of young people the world over have perished on battlefields during International Youth Year. Thousands of others remain imprisoned or detained for racial or political reasons. Millions of young people are refugees and displa~~ persons living in deprivation and d~~peration away from their ancestral homes &nd lands. The youth of today are growing up in a period characterized by grave political upheavals, flagrant violations of human rights~ foreign interventions, aggression, military occupation, a deteriorating economic situatior., tension and escalation of the arms race. Young people witness these injustices. They see the anarchy and the lawlessness prevailing in many parts of the world, threatening global insanity and gradually taking the place of logic and reason. That is why young people in all parts of the world raise their voices against wars and the arms race, join hands for co-operation and friendship among people and demonstrate their I solidarity with the struggle for freedom, peace and justice. They share a c~mon (Mrs. Kozakou-Marcoullis, cyprus) d!eam ang ideal: the establishment of a more just and a more peaceful world for future generations. They aspire to the eradication of weapons of destruction that threaten to eliminate life itself from our planet. They look forward to a time when wars and hatred among nations and peoples will be replaced by co-operation, peaceful coexistence and the realization of common objectives for progress and prosperity in peace. International Youth Year, which is soon coming to an end, has created the global awareness that concrete measures should be implemented to improve the situation of youth through better and free education for all, equality of opportunities, active participation in the social, economic, cultural and political life of their countries, as well as the cultivation of values and principles which will render them capable of contributing positively to the shaping of a better world. Allow me briefly to describe the activities and contribution of the National Committee of Cyprus for International Youth Year towards the fulfilment of the objectives and goals of International Youth Year. The National Committee of Cyprus is composed of 87 youth organizations and government agencies involved in youth affairs. The eight sub-committees that were established are dealing with the preparation of a study of the situation of youth in specific fields of social life covering such areas as scientific research, education, legal matters, cultural activities, employw~nt and occupational opportunities, social services, participation in international meetings and organizational matters. The specific recommendations and and suggestions of the sub-committees will be submitted to the Government for the formulation of an ~ntegrated national youth policy which will provide for the solution of the problems of youth through appropriate services and facili ties. (Mrs. Kozakou-Marcoullis, Cyprus) Among the objectives which fora the basis of the programme of action of the National Committee of Cyprus are the study and evaluation of the situation and problems of our country's youth, the study, evaluation and improvement of existing policies on youth affairs, the dissemination of information on the objectives of International Youth Year, increased governmental financial and technical assistance to youth organizations, the promotion of awareness among youth of the socio-economic and political situation of the country and the essential role youth can play in the realization of political and developmental objectivesJ increased participation by youth in the cultural life of the country, the promotion and safeguarding of rights to education and employment, cultivation among youth of the ideals of freedom and Justice, and enhancement of the role of youth in the promotion and safeguarding of those ideals, as well as increased communication and co-operation of the National committee of Cyprus for International Youth Year with the national committes of other countries as well as international organizations. The programme of action of the National Committee for Internat:onal Youth Year included the establishment of a centre for the information and training of youth leaders, the organization of various seminars, including seminars on ·Problems of national youth policy·. It also included a Mediterranean youth conference, Pan-Cyprian Youth Week, which includeld seminars, festivals, athletic events and exhibitions with the participation of all the youth organizations of the country and other activities aimed at promoting the themes of Internationa1 Youth Year. A training course for youth officers was also set up in co-ordination with the Commonwealth Youth Programme through its regional youth development centre for Africa on project planning in youth work. (Mrs. Kozakou-Marcoullis, Cyprus) In conclusion I wish to express the hope of the youth of CypruB that the International Youth Year vill bring noble aspirations and realities closer for youth all over the world. Cypriot youth believes in peace, for it has witnessed tbe consequences of war and destruction. They believe in freedom and cherish with .i111ons of youth frOll all over the world the lofty principles of justice, , . . international solidarity, peaceful coexistence, co-operation, understanding cmtS respect for international law and human rights as the necessary prer~~isite& for the establisbJlent of a world of peace and progress for all mankind, a world in which whicb all people shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their SPears into pruning-books, in which nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither sball they learn war any IIOre. (Hrs. KozakoU-Marcoullis, Cyprus) Mr. COSSIO (Colombia) (interpretation from Spanish): Before malking my etate!!-9nt. Sir: Slay I express, on behalf of the Colombian Mission to the united Nations, the Colombian Gover.nmen~ ar~ all .~ compatriots, our sincere gratitude for the generous expressions of solidarity towa~ds my country in the grave tragedy that has caused incalculable human and material losses. The sympathetic words of the Assembly's President in opening the meeting yesterday, which offered us the moral support of the entire international community, are an encouragement in the face of the immense pain facing all Colombians at this crucial time in our history. To educate and train youth for work within a modern concept of real participation in the life of a nation, by teaching young people the fundamental significance of values and rights that have inspired the lives of peoples and constitute the cornerstone of the principles of the United Nations Charter, allowing them to participate with complete freedom in the procees, respecting their human dignity and their right to express their own aspirations in order to build the world of tomorrow, is the challenge facing the leaders of the world~ who firmly believe in the development of mankind in the context of peace and justice. In order to attain those objectives, young people need to develop an intellectual life free of all prejudices and, above all, a spiritual identity that gives strength to their beliefs, so that they can without fear w~ster their own future. If we understand development to be a force which enhances the cultural, religious, political, economic and social aspects of a country, then younq people cannot be left out. Such an integrated approach implies the development of the individual through which the human person has his basic needs - both physical and spiritual - fully met. For that purpose, youth needs to contribute its own ideas and work conscientiously. It is th~refore important that Governments take young people into account in reaching decisions on development policies. It is appropriate for young people to have all the means they need for their education, I so that they may develop with noble and sound ideals giving them access to social, economic, cultural and political life. Youth participates directly in society and therefore has rights and obligations towards society. Youth, by virtue of the historic role it must play, needs to research social problems and propose possible solutions, thus participating in decisions that affects its own life and the life of its country. In order to attcdn those goals States must give youth the means to organize and express itself freely within a democratic framework v respecting the rights of young people as individuals and as protagonists of the societies in which they live. Those principles are a synthesis of the valuable body of theory and dooumentation provided by Governments and agencies which have ac~ively participated in the enlightened initiative of the United Nations in proclaiming 1985 International Youth Yeaz. The important work undertaken by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and by the Advisory Committee that prepared the guidelines for formulating international and national policies concerning youth, have the sincere appreciation of my delegation and the gratitude of all mankind. Their work constitutes an invaluable legacy for the young people of the world, because it is aimed at enhancing the dignity of the human ~rson and is an incentive and an invitation to young people to participate freely in the development of their community and of their c~~ntry. ~~l nations have enthusiastically welcomed the United·Nations fnitiative and millions of persons and entities have contributed to the implementation of a unique programme for world youth. In my country, International Youth Year mobilized the Government and private and youth organizations in complete support of the celebrations planned by this Organization in accordance with resolution 34/151 of 1979. My Government endorsed the idea officially through a Presidential Decree of Qctober 1~84, by which it created the National Council to co-ordinate International Youth Year. That body was composed of official agencies under the aegis of the Colombian Institute for Youth and Sport, of different non-governmental entities in the private sector and of national youth organizations of different types. Under the slogan of Participation, Development and Peace, the country will thus be given an opportunity to draw attention to the situation, to the needs and the aspirations of youth, and will be given the best opportunity to plan a permanent national policy for the younger generation which will help youth to participate in the analysis and solution of its problems and those of the community at large. There has been an enormous increa~ in the young population and a growing percentage of youth in the total population of Colombia. At the present time there are approximately 6 million young people between the ages of 15 and 24, representing 23 per cent of our total population, The growth rate of the young population in the past 20 years ~~s been 100 per cent and 70 per cent of those young people are in urban centres. This phenomenon of urban concentration entails serious problems of education and employment, which in turn generate cases of drug addiction, prostitution and j~venile delinquency. The tremendous problems faced by the developing countries, including Colombia, with their growing foreign debt, the economic recession and many social conflicts, have alarmingly worsened the crisis of unemplOYment, which nas particularly affected young people seeking jobs. This is an obstacle to peace, since peace cannot be obtained without development, without employment, without education and without an adequate standard of living. any youth policy is effective assistance from the industrialized countries. In order to celebrate International Youth Year in my country, the Co-ordinating Cou~cil has established departmental and municipal sub-councils and working committees in the areas of education, health, housi09, employment, publicity, industrial relations and finance. It has also broadened participation to include other sectors such as international co-operation, the mass media and all bodies that are carrying out activities in the field of youth. These sub-committees have prepared documents and have conducted studies and research. Particularly noteworthy are those prepared by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), entitled "Youth and society in Colombia" and "Without a Future", as well as a well-prepared document by the National Training Service (SENA) which is entitled -Strength, Work and ~raining and Employment Policies for Youth-. In preparing that study, SENA broke new ground in ~nvolving Colombian youth in the SENA community programme, which is aimed at training annually within the community 5,000 community instructors who will be given the means and resources they need to train others and to develop as community leaders, with the object of participation. Work is also being done on training programmes aimed at the participation of rural youth and training for the integration and participation of the urban community, including the important task of promoting micro-industries as a means of prOViding jobs for youth around the family nucleus. SENA is very successfully implementing the new approach known as the "dual system", which consists in the professional training of youth through a combined system of co-operation between enterprises and training centres. (Mr. Cossio, Colombia) Moreover, specific drafts have already been drawn up that will become government decrees and laws of the Republic designed to implement a national policy for Colombian youth. These cover various subjects, such as the preparation of an annual national youth plan, the organization of an information centre to offer young people easy access to information on sUbjects of interest to them which can provide them with a sound basis for ~heir social integration and action, the creation within our COldeportes Organization of a special youth unit, the establishment of a research and information centre on youth problems, the creation of machineries to bring about broad and democratic participation of young people in political affairs; and in national development, to enhance their role as protagonists in the policy of peace and democratic open-mindedness in educational reform, in agrarian reform and in recreation, youth employment, and rehabilitation policies, and to enlist their firm support for a bold policy against the consumption and illicit use of drugs. This range of activities and programmes, developed to prepare the International Youth Year in Colombia, was supported wholeheartedly by the President of the Republic and public opinion, and in particular by youth organizations which saw in them a valuable opportunity to participate actively in decisions involving their own destiny. In order to increase national interest in International Youth Year, the President of the Republic made his appeal in a solemn ceremony. At that time, President Belasario Betancur affirmed: "The great discovery of our modern Jay is the participation of the individual in all events involving his future decisions are reached that affect his future; he has a right to have control over himself, his surroundings and his community." (Hr. Cassio, Colombia) He wants to participate wherever "We are in favour of incorporating human talents in the activities of the nation so that tbose young people who are raised in our homeland may have an opportunity to apply the knowledge they have acquired for the benefit of the community." At th~ same ceremony, the youth representative stated: "International Youth Year is aimed at promoting the participation of young people in the political, economic and social affairs of every country. In our view, participation means democracy, it means taking part, it means rights and guarantees, it means solidarity ~d actionJ participation means opening the mind to new ideas". President Belisario Betancur concluded with this forceful appeal: "Peace does not mean simply the absence of warJ it is something deeper. It is the fullness of human achievement. Peace means social order, peace means equilibr.ium, peace means employmentJ it means recognizing that my right ends where the right of my neighbour begins.· "Peace is one ana indivisible) any breach of the peace has a multiplier effect." As world public opinion is aware, our country has recently suffered the effects of terrorism, with its painful consequences. That is why the best tribute that this O~neral Assembly can pay to all young people at the fortieth sessv~n is to declare drug trafficking and terrorism to be crimes against mankind, availing itself of the very interesting discussion which is taking place on the draft code of offences against the peace and security of mankind in the Sixth Committee. The world has attached so much importance to the International Youth Year that it would be wrong for the issue to be dropped with this solemn celebration which is being held precisely to promote it. The ach~evements thus far are so important that it iB worth while continuing with permanent work in this field. Therefore, lIlY delegation would recaDlllend to the General Assembly that it maintain the entire administrative structure created to prepare the International Youth Year, that the Advisory Committee continue to operate and that the subjects ~~epared be distributed to the various committees and units of the General Assembly and the united Nations for consideration so that they may become specific resolutions and guidelines addressed to Governments, and designed to help them implement their domestic youth policies. In just a decade, the Assembly will be celebrating its golden anniversary in . the service of mankind. Rov wonderful it would be if future generations were to receive on that occasion a comprehensive policy developed in the United Nations that could help them to attain their goals, so that they could participate directly in shaping their own future • . We are seeking to develop an integral concept which will enable us to live in peace and with justice. If, at the time of ta'le fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations we can present young people with a world in peace and in social and economic equilibrium, we shall be able to join Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul 11 in saying that -The new name of peace is justice- and that epeace and youth go hand in hand-. (Hr. Cossio, COlombia) Hr. ERGO (CUlerOOl'l): The General Assembly decided last year to dedicate a nUllber of plenary meetings during the fortieth SI!SSiOfi i:o cm exuifiatlofi of policies and programmes related to youth. The occasion of this United Nations WOrld COnference is of particular significance as it falls at the historic time when we are taking stock of 40 years of existence of this Organization. The problems of youth are of critical ~rtance in contemplating what role future generations must play in making this planet a ~aven of peace and security for mankind. The stocktaking must also be of ourselves and of our activities in attempting to shape that future, that lleans Meaber States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and others. There is need to identify regions of success and areas of failure with a view to strengthening our joint resolve to make a full success of our endeavours. For ~hen we talk about our youth we indeed talk about ourselves, of the survival of the hWDan race and of the quality of life that we seek for ourselves in the future. The young will reflect out very selves and in our image they will make or liar the destiny of our collectivi~. All statistics ~gree that the world youth popUlation has been increasing steadily. The report of the Secretary-General on the situation of youth in the 1980s (A/40/64) states that the world popUlation of those aged between 15 and 24, which was estimated at 515 million in 1960, 661 million in 1970 and 922 million in 1984, will grow to over 1 billion '!1y the end of this decade. Yet the machinery and systems at both the national and thf~ international level do not seem to move fast enough to meet the new an~ legitimate dem.mds of that growing section of our populations. In fact, the prospects for generations to come Look gloomy when one considers the future from the economic, social and political standpoints. Most of us have gone through that precarious stage in life. But I am sure that we can still remember the numerous concerns that were ours as we gazed earnestly at what the future held· for us, with nothing more to offer than our enthusiasm" energy and sometimes unrealistic ideas. It is a stage a~ which one is most vulnerable to the belief that one belongs nowhere. Those in rural areas would feel left to themselves, without access to land of their own,and deprived of skills or training schemes that would help them meet the demands Cif their traditional values. Meanwhile youth in the cities face an acute problem of social and cultural rejection as they try to integrate into the urban socio-economic system. This situation would appear gloomier in the context of the lingering economic crisis which faces the world at large. Even in the most developed countries, Governments have had to reduce the part of their strained budgets allocated to youth programmes. This is all the more critical in the African dcought- and famine-stricken countries, which are fighting for the basic survival of their· populations. Young people there do not have the leisure to think of any rights or development as they yearn daily for the absolute minimum of sustenance in order to live. Nor do young PeOple in an environment of political unrest and armed confiicts have the peace of mind necessary for concentration on development activitles. I have in mind the millions of young men and women in South Africa for whom the vision of basic human rights and fundamental human freedoms is dimmed by the darkness of their skin and obstructed by the ominous apartheid system. I also picture in this category those young men in Angola, and the other front-line countries and the members of the South west Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) in Namibia who courageously make the supreme sacrifice of life for the self-determination and independence of their peoples. I am aware of those numerous (Hi:. Engo, Camerocm) others in the Middle Ea8~, Asia and central America who slaughter each other daily in the name of ideologies and. concepts which are not grounded in their own socio-political inte~ests and well-being. The time is ri~e for serious reflection and a sincere appraisal of our aCltione. In this International Youth Year it is indeed time to ponder whether the measures taken 80 far a~e appropriate if'we are to let young people participate in building their cwm future, take an active role in the "development process and contribute to peace in general. Vari~·~ reports on activities and progra~es undertaken in connection with r~ca~national Youth Year reflect the new awareness that Governments and the international community in general have of the plea of youth. Many countries, in~!udin9 Camer~n, have set up national committees to co-ordir ate the act~vities of International You~h Year. A number of seminars and festivals have been organ:~ed bOth at th~ regional and at the international level. The results not only show an increased consciousness of the demands of young men and women who played an active role in those meetings, but a new commitment by the Governments represented, therein. In m¥ country, where, as President Paul 8iya put it, we believe in Cameroonian youth -both as the catalyst of the action and as the most dynamic and healthy component, and the most. available of the vital forces of the nation-, this justifies the efforts of the Government to provide better educatl1"t\ fc;!, its young people since our country became independent 25 years ago. Attendance in primary and secondary schools has increased tenfold since 1960 and thEI relevant chapter in the national budget not only is the largest but has increased consistently despite economic difficulties. To keep up with Cameroon's policy of (Mr. Engo, Cameroon) . balanced development.. bilingualism remains a key factor, and even Arabic is taught in lIany public and private schools. In order to give every young Cameroonian exposure to"better living standards, special education centres have been set up for physically and mentally handicapPed children and should become generalized, with the help of private funds, in future. Finally, for more than a decade my Government has made consistent efforts at secondary and university levels to complement intellectual and a~ademic education wit~ professional training which enables stuaents to get jobs, avoiding unne=essarily protracted training and specialization programmes. Thus, young Cameroonians can specialize in agriculture, . tropical medicine or diplomacy, to mention just a few. These institutes and schools are open to at~dents from African and, in some cases, Caribbean countries. Still in line with its policy of balanced growth, the Government is putting up university centres in different provinces, each one specializing in such fieldS as food, agre-industry, trade or human science. . In Cameroon young people are given the opportunity to express themselves at the political level within the youth wing of the Cameroon People's Democratic Move_nt, which IIObilizes them for nation-building and other work in a civic spirit.. Each year a week-long celebration is organized in connection with Youth Day, young men and wome~ from all provinces and walks of life lleet in sports encounters and round-table debates on issues that they regard as impGrtant.. This is part of Cameroon's policy for youth-training and guidance, in the hope that both intellectual and extra-curricular activities will enhance their interest in and ambition for development.. This means that,.tak1ng advantage of the momentum gathered during International Youth Year, the Government - to pu~ it in the language of President 81ya: wwi11 spare no effort nor overlook any opportunity to reassert its conviction that Cameroonian youth are both an asset for today's action and a hope for future projects· .. We would urge all Governments of good faith as well as international organizations to take'advantage of the structure set for International Youth Year in order to seek to understand the problems of youth and give them the opportunity to help prepare for a better future, which after all is mostly theirs.. We would also urge all Governments represented here not to forget the youth in South Africa and Namibia, whose natural resources are being ravaged daily for the benefit of a few.. Violence by the racist apartheid regime in South Africa and Namibia 8hould not be allowed - despite the general condemnation of the system and in defiance of all pertinent resolutions of this body and of the Council for Namibia - to stifle the legitimate claim of young people for their land and the resources that that land bears .. (Hr.. Engo, Cameroon) The International Year of Peace will soon take over from the International Youth Year, the third theme of which has been ·Peacew • That may appear to be a coincidence, but it certainly depicts the preoccupations of our subconscious minds. In fact, the year for peace was in our minds at the creation of this Organization, 40 years ago, as we proclaimed in our Charter that we w&nted to fts~ve succeeding generations from the scourge of war". More than 100 conflicts have broken out since - sometimes serving as mere testing grounds for new weapons. But the sad result is that the sacrifice has always been that of youth. With the proliferation of nuclear weapons to the present stage, where a general conflagration could be initiated by accident or computer failure, our generation in fact has placed a serious mortgage on the heritage that we are supposed to hand down to the coming generation. My delegation, which actively supports all efforts aimed at disarmament of both conventional and nuclear weapons, would appeal to all c~_:ntries participating in this Conference - the nuclear as well as the weapon-manufacturing States - on the occasion of this Conference to pledge a common commitment to peace, development and the fUlfilment of human needs. In conclusion, inspired by the principles of the United Nations Charter, let us make aure that our children will systematically be integrated into their respective societies and appropriately into the world community, of which they are an integral part. Let us resolve to reject rhetoric and lip-service to the future of tomorrowis leaders. We must design a better world not only for now but for always. Mr. LOPES TEIXERA (Angola) (spoke in PortugueseJ interpretation from French text furnished by the delegation): I should like first to take this opportunity to express, on behalf of the Government and people of the People's (Mr. Engo, Cameroon) Republic of Angola, our deep sorrow at the human and material losses suffered in Colombia as a result of the catastrophe that has just occurred in that country. On behalf of the Government of the People' s Republic of Angola and its National Co-ordinating Committee, I welcome the holding of the United Nations World World Conference for the International Youth Year. We are certain that the political will to promote a constructive di.alogue by the various nations of the world is proof of the interest and attention that the Governments repreeented here attach to the question of youth. The United Nations decision to proclaim International Youth Year, with the motto BParticipation, Development, PeaceB, shows the concern of nations for the future of mankind. For the youth of the world represents that future. It is the young people who are now between 15 and 30 years old who will be the leaders of the world, during a transitional phase that will be vety difficult because of the prevailing climate of tension and confrontation. Consequently, we agree entirely that the proclamation of International Youth Year cannot be seen as just an event, rather, it is the beginning of a process that sets in motion a major appraisal and study of the situation of young PeOple in all countries and regions, with a view to planning policies and programmes designed to alleviate the problems and to use inQreasingly the potential of youth. Young people are now living in societies that are undergoing major social and economic changes. They are, of course, the ones who suffer most directly the adverse consequences of economic recession and of war. Problems of fundamental rights, such as the right to work, to be educated, to have health services, are not being solved quickly because they are merely part of a whole series of problems confronting society as a whole. (Hr. Lopes Teixera, Angola) Benee, the th.as of the progr.-e of International ·Youth Year - Participation, Develo~nt, Peace ~ are iJlportant pointers encouraging the active participation of youth ,n devfilo~nt and prOlaOting the iMpleJlentation of national and local policies and progrcuaes designed for tile creation by States an~ GoverllBnts of better conditions of living, work and education for the new generation. In this context the various initiatives set in IIOtion by the united Nations and its specialized agencies, the various States and Governments, regional organs and youth organizations, are an important step in the study of the fundamental problems and facilitate co-ordination of 6fforts to adopt appropriate measures in connection with matters relating to youth. The XII World Festival of Youth and Students, which was an important platform for young people, for peace, friendship, co-operation and solidarity between young people of the world, the World Youth Congress organized ~ the United N~ti~s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Barcelona, and other such examples of the range of activities that are possible in the search for positive results in this domain. The setting up of national co-ordination committees and other national co-ordination measures made it possible to carry out a global and intersectoral stUdy of problems affecting youth and the appropriate planning of their future. The United Nations document on guidelines for the planning of new measures and the adoption of appropriate complementary measures in matters relating to youth sets forth some important considerations and basic principles for young people. we feel that this is an important document because not only does it provide for more active work for youth by thl! United Nations' and its specialized agencies but it is also an instrument that can be used creatively in each region and country with due regard for the realities in each country and its circumstances and priorities. We are also in favour of continuing in the long term the ~ctivities that started with the commemoration of International Youth Year and which have' strengthened communication between the United Nations, youth and youth organizations to improve active participation by young people in the work of the United Nations and to develop co-operation at all levels so as to resolve questions relating to young people and undertake concerted programmes of action to help young people, using for this purpose existing structures within.the framework of International Youth Year. . . I should like to give a brief account of what has been done in my country as part of Internaticmal Youth Year and to share some thoughts on the role of youth in the promotion of development. In the People's Republic of Angola, where young people make up SOll!e 60 per cent of the popUlation, development programmes adopted as part of the current social transformation process are basically for the benefit of the new generation. So the slogan of International Youth Year aimed at setting up a society of democracy, justice, social progress and peace accords with the will of all our peop,le, young and old. Ten years ago the People's Republic of Angola, a free, independent country, started a process of national reconstruction in which the question of youth is perfectly and comprehensively incorporated in the framework of political, social, and economic development programmes. Although we became independent only recently, some of our achievements are worthy of noi:e. For example, the young people of Angola ai:'e enjuying some of theii:' basic rights, in particular their fundamental rights under constitutional law, a system of compulsory free general education up to primary level, free medic&l assistance and medication~ the right to work, and so on. At the same time, youth is genuinely committed to the development process and national reconstruction, participating actively in many different activities, for example, the fight against illiteracy, teaching and construction. Youth, in fact, is the most important element in the defence of the country and its territorial integrity. But during its 10 years of independence our people have not enjoyed the peace needed for the economic, social, political and cultural development that would enable our young people quickly to build a harmonious future. As evidence of this situation we would simply point to the recent abrogation of the Clark amendment by the pnited States Congress, which allows the Un.ited S~ates Administration to give open support to puppet bands which are massacring defenceless populations and destroying schools, health centres and so on. When we speak of the situation of youth we can understand it in only the present context of ~he Angolan society. Faced with the circumstances I have just described, the young people of Angola are paying with their blood for the freedom that was won at such cost. However,. the young people of Angola look with optimism at the society they are building and have set up a national co-ordination committee for International Youth Year in which are represented various sectors of young people, governmental bodies and mass and social organizations. The commemoration of International Youth Year in the Republic of Angola has proved an excellent opportunity to make the young people of our country more aware of their. role in the development of our society. It has also provided a means of making governmental bodies aware of the need to find solutions to the problems affecting young people ~ a social group that haQ specific aspirations and problems. From this viewpoint, we intend to continue through the study of the situation of young people in Angola, which will lead to the holding of a national symposium on youth with the purpose of securing a wider knowledge of the situation of young people in the People's RepUblic of Angola, its needs and its aspirations, encouraging the preparation of policies and programmes for the bene~it of young pe~ple as an integral part of the social and economic development of the country, intensifying the act.ive participat.iOn of young pwple in the societ.y and defining an internat.ional strategy for act~on in favour it. the new generation. During this year some activities have been carried out. as part. of the International Youth Year, and we would like to st.ress the f.JllOidng: the construct.ion of schools in rural areasJ the preparation of television and radio programmes on family and sex educatio:''lJ a campaign for the promotion of new ways of using free t.ime for young people and of their part.icipat.ion in the rest.orat.ion and cons~rvation of the cultural heritageJ the promotion of mass participation by young people in wider programmes for the training of public health and hea.1.th education and vaccination officialsJ the holding of nat.ional festivals of workers} political songs and young comba1;antsJ commemoration of the fortieth anniversary of the Victory over fascismJ and recreational and cult.ural programmes to mark the XII World Festival of Youth and Students. We recognize that what. has been done so far is very modest but. our Government. is determined to cont.inue the efforts we have started so as to give the naw generation better condit.ions of life and enable them fully t.o develop their abilities and channel their dynamism, energy and enthusiasm towards the harmonious development of t.he country which they defend so proudly and with such determination• Ms. AGBALl\YA (Nigeria): Perait _,on behalf of my delegation, to congratulate the united Rations General Assel'lbly for successfully designating 1985 as International Youth Year, which we are celebrating this week. The theme for the celebrations - Participation, Development, Peace - has graphically drawn the attention of the adult world to the role of youth and their capacity to contribute to national and international peace and progress. It -is fortuitous and auspicious that the colllllemration of the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations also coincides with International Youth Year. I bring to this Organization and, through it, to the z"Outh of the world, the greetings, goodwill and solidarity of the youth of Nigeria. My country shares with the rest of the international colll1Unity concern over the need to give youth an active role in national development and international co-operation. This is especially true when it is realized that the youth of today are more vulnerable to the hazards of the ever-increasing political conflicts in the world with all their dire consequences. With the deterioration of the world economic situation, especially in developing countries, the welfare of youth, as one of each nation's special enc:1owments, raust of necessi ty be the subject of global concern.- The history of youth activities in Nigeria is not recent. It dates back to the pre-colonial era, when the youth in the country organized themselves, on an age basis, in their various conaunities, particularly in rural areas, to participate in community development projects. After the attainment of independence, and consistent with the social and economic changes of the times, successive Governments accorded commensurate attention to the varied needs and aspirations of young people in the country. It was soon recognized that an institutionalized framework would better guarantee the contribution and participation of Nigerian youth, estimated at about S9 per cent of the population. As a result, specific Youth Departments were established to take care of youth matters at the Pederal and State levels of government. It was the increasing awareness of the role of youth in national development and the fact that the absence of a national policy has had restrictive effects on achieving optimum results with regard to youth development work in all its ramifications that buttressed the need for a purposeful youth policy. The main objectives of the policy are the involvement and participation of Nigerian youth i~ the social, economic and cultural development of the country, the inculcation of the virtues of patriotism, discipline f selfless service, honesty and leadership in youth and the fostering of national understanding and unity among youth. Nigeria accords 9reat ~portance to the United Nations Declaration of 1985 as International Youth Year and in particular to its theme, Participation, Development, ~eace. As proof of this, Nigeria has been actively involved in all programmes that have been undertaken in connection with preparations for International Youth Year th~s year. As a member of the Advisory Committee for the International Youth Year, Nigeria actively participated in all preparatory meetings held in Vienna. At the national level, the Nigerian Advisory Committee was inaugurated on 16 February 1983. The Commitee worked out the programme and guidelines for the celebration in Nigeria of International Youth Year, which involved all levels of Government. It assisted the Federal and State Governments in their efforts to examine and assess the situation of youth and helped to formulate a national strategy on youth, as well as set targets and priorities in the field of youth participation in national development planning. The Committee also evaluated actual achievements, reassessed long-term objectives and prepared a plan of action to be carried out in 1985 and thereafter. Since the establishment of the National Advisory Committee for the International Youth Year, numerous activities have been undertaken in Nigeria to (Ms. Agbalaya, Nigeria) enlighten the general pUblic about the programme for the celebration of International Youth Year in Nigeriao These include the launching of the International Youth Year itself on 26.January 1985 by the Head of State, t'he holding of a National Conference on Youth, and a Youth Rally and Exhibition. Visits under an exchange programme were organized among youth in different parts of the country. The most memorable programme organized for the celebration of International Youth Year was the National Youth Rally. It was memorable in the sense that it was the first National Youth Rally ever held in Nigeria. During the Year, Nigerian youths participated in a number of international conferences and meetings. Among such conferences were the Commonwealth Ya,th Festival (COMEX), held in Zambia, the Youth Cultural Festival, held in Kingston, Jamaica, and. the World Festival of Youth and Students, held in Moscow. These international conferences afforded Nigerian youth leaders the opportunity to meet their counterparts from other parts of the world and to exchange ideas on national experiences. Furthermore, an international workshop on the theme -Youth participation in development for the promotion of peace- is scheduled to take place in Nigeria from 23 to 2~ November 1985. It will be the major international activity planned by the Nigerian National Advisory Committee and nine African countries have been invited to participate. The development of human resources, and particularly youth, has always been one of the top priorities of the Nigerian Government. In this connection, the right of youths to participate in the advancement of society in all fields has always been recognized and given due attention. Development programmes at the Federal, State and local government levels have accordingly always been designed to i~clude and expand youth participation. Government investment in education, especially in youth education programmes, amply testifies to the importance consciousll' accorded to youth development. Young people in Nigeria ~~titute the IISjod~y of the country's population. Quite inevitably, Nigerian youth ~u.llre played a sub!.tantlal role in the leadership of the country since independenc~. In recognition of InternatiCllal Youth Year, the Governaent recently launched a national youth policy ailled at further enhancing the develoPJll!nt of youth, .specially in sucb fields as education, eaployaent, sporta and culture. Existing national schemes, such as the National Youth Service Corps, now in its twelfth year, have been making great contributions to the creative development of youth. The National Youth Service Corps was introduced in 1973 for the graduates of l!ll universities to render one year's service to the nation before taking up a career of theit" choice. '!'he ·youths concerned are posted to parts of tha country different from their normal domicile. This arrangement enables each participant to gain diversified knowledge of the country and to share living experiences in unfamiliar parts of the country. The service is obligatory for all university graduates. During the one-year national service~ members of the Youth Corps are assigned to both public and private sectors, after participation in a leadersbip tr~!n!ng progra!!!!!!e at designated orientation centres for a few weeks. Private faailies are encouraged to accommodate these young people to afford them the opportunity to interact with the local population and, if possible, learn the local language. One significant feature of the one year service is execution of community development projects in collaboration with members of the beneficiary communities. The community development projects are designed to give both members of the Youth Corp and of the community the challenge to conceive and execute small communal self~help projects while contributing to overall development endeavours. Government at federal, state and local levels in Nigeria have specific ministries ana departments responsible for youth affairs. Citizenship and leadership training centres, also with youth orientation programmes, exist in specific locations in the country. These centres operate and administer courses for young persons with responsible positions in public and private sectors to ~harpen their mental as well as physical alertnesF.. Owing tu modern technology, our world has literally become a global village. Youths everywhere and in all countries are enjoying the advantages of technological advancement but at the same time are suffering from its attendant problems. These p~oblems include the repercussions of the acquisitive culture of materialism that has become the hallmark of our age. Almost in its universal ·manifestation, the cultur~ has regrettably neglected morality. The adults are so preoccupied with the race for wealth that they nearly totally neglect the moral training of youth. The competition is so fierce that justice for youth is also neglected. The result is the present decadence not only ~ong the adult popUlation but also among youth. Drug abuse, for example, has become a global phenomenon aIlDng youth. Youths ,of each generation are, of necessity, a reflection of what the adult society makes of them. They cannot develop physically, ~ntally and morally in isolation from their society. In order to assure .;,1.:-00 and moral development, the international community must ensure equitable apportionment of available resources to aspects of social development which will create a conducive environment and improve their well being. The Nigerian National Advisory Committee has structured its programmes in a way to provide various national activities culminating, in December of every year, with the presentation, by the Bead of State, of the National Youth Award. International Youth Year has no doubt increased the tempo of governmental as well as non-governmental activities for youth in Nigeria. The promotion of the activities of International Youth Year, occasioned, in my country, the launching of fund-raising events. The funds realized were appUJ~d by the National Advisory Committee to supplement G9vernment effl"rts in the area of construction of four youth fl .ployment centres in the country. The Youth Employment Programme is one of the major national priorities. It is aimed at r~ducing unemployment in Nigeria by the reE:<tO'Idl of unemployed youth from the streets and training them in specific skills and aptitudes which will guarantee employment and promote responsible citizenship either as self-employed persons or as wage earners. There is no doubt that the year 198~ has been a remarkable one for youths of Nigeria, in particular, and the world in general. We believe in the objectives and ideals of International Youth Year. We feel convinced that more time is required to propagate these laudable ideals in order to achieve greater universal impact and appreciation. We should like, therefore, to recol1lllend that the General Assembly should declare a Decade for the celebrations. This is to assure greater number of youth, all ewer the world, to contribute to our theme of ·Participation, Mr. ESSY (Ivory Coast) (interpretation from French) : International Youth Year has been cand will remain the festival of youth. unfortunately, however, the j.,i;:: ''.hat we have felt all this year has just be~:l shattered as a result of the catastrophe that has just struck Colontlla - its youth and the youth all over the world, since solidarity derives from the nC1ture of youth all over the world. I should like, on behalf of the Government Qf the Ivory Coast, to extend to the Government and the people of Colombia our sincere condolences and express the hope that the active solidarity of the international community will be able once again to help us face these challenges of nature, one of which hall' just struck a friendly State. The fOIJ."1ding Members of our Organization state in the preamble of the Charte~ signed in San Francisco in June 1945 their determination -to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind-. It is fortunate and highly significan~ that at a time when we celebrate the forty years of existence of the United Nations we have been able to initiate an International Youth Year. The Ivory Coast weloomes that initiative all the mre so since, as President Houphouet-Boigny said in the message that he addressed to the. youth of the Ivory Coast at the opening of International Youth Year: ·Since its accession to sovereignty, the Ivory Coctl;i'1: has placed its youth at the centre of its constant concerns ••• There is no single important act of our development policies that does not take care to integrate the youth of the Ivory Coast into that developnent and that does not attempt to meet the need to integrate youth as one of its· main driving forces.- The situation of youth in the world today gives us a true measure of the eff(\rts acoomplished - their level of education, their state of physical and mental health, their fears and their hopes are the reflection of our successes or of our failures. The Ivory Coast, like mst developing countries, is characterized by the demographic importance of youth. In 1983, those 15 years of age and under represented 43 per ce~t of our population. This structure definitely created many obligations for the State and households, but it ~!.: ,) represented a token of progress if one lIlmages to grant that youth all the attention that it deserves. Consequently, Ol:lt country devotes IIOre than 40 per cent of its budget to the education and training of young people. The number of secondary school students has increased 200 times since our accession to independence. From 618 in 1963 the nUDDer of students has grown to 12.000 in 1983. without forgetting the fact that the efforts accomplished in all other fields - health. elAployment. sport, habitat - have c~eated favourable canditions ~or the developaent of our yout.h. These achievements do not allow us to forget the scope of the task that we still have to accomplishQ In the field of emplloyment, for example, our country experiences, the same as other countries, a discrepancy between the needs of the labour market and the training offered to young people. The slowing down of economic grOMclt as a result of the effects of the crisis has aggravated this situation. At the end of 1981, for example, the State created a national solidarity fund, financed by a 1 per cent charge on salaries. This measure aakea it possible to pay a lIlOnthly allowance to those whose employment has been terminated. This solidarity action and the assistance granted to the unemployed amounted to CFA Francs 12 billion over the last five years. Along with this social polit:::y, the State is engaged in research and development of new alternatives through operations known as -employment-training-. which should make it possible to retrain young people seeking employment. The tral.ning objectives are defined in the effort to introduce youth in the socio-professional group in accordance with the priorities set by the Party and the Government. Agr iculture, on which our economy is based, is at the top of the list. * * Mr. Diaconu (Romania), Vice-President. took the Chair. (Mr. Essy. Ivory Coast) Indeed, the Ivory Coast believes that it is by allowing young people and women to have access to the land, to machines, to inputs and to know-how that our agriculture will be able to meet the challenge of self-sufficiency in food. Thus in several regions hundreds of hectares have been developed or are about to be developed in order to bring in young persons, whether they are schoolchildren or not, to improve the quality of agricultural work. It is within this political context, and with the aim of integrating young persons into the social and working world, that International Youth Year has been developed in the Ivory Coast. It has given rise to various events that have had a considerable impact upon young persons, and also upon parents, thanks to the enthusiasm of the National Committee and the regional, departmental and local committees that have been set up. Among the most immediate consequences of those events we note with satisfaction the emergence among the young of a now image of themselves and a new perception of their role. They know now that while they are entitled to expect a great deal from the State and from their parents~ the State and their parents also rely upon them in pursuing the development aims set by our country. The nature of thei~ contributions and the spheres of activity in which they should be made have been defined. International Youth Year has also provided an opportunity for parents not only to express the~r concerns and expectations but also to become aware of the scope of their responsibilities as educators. Lastly, persons and institutions working for the young have used this Year in order to consult each other and define the basis of a policy intended to be more effective. Apart from the events organized at the national level, our country was honour~d to host two international events facilitating communication and understanding among young persons: the Games of the Conference of Ministers for Youth and Sports, which brought together 26 French-speaking countries, and an international symposium on peace. OUr country, which had previously hosted other meetings of young persons from many countries, attaches much importance to this type of meeting, which enables us to enjoy and cultivate friendship among individuals and nations. Through their participation in this Year devoted to them, young persons have shown their inherent characteriatics of availability, enthusiasm and energy. We must continue to fostN and nurture those resources. They can also inspire us in our quest for peace and development. The development of these physical, moral and psychological resources and the sharing of them is possible only with the suppor·t of the media. In my country, radio, televisi~n and newspapers, which have a considerable impact om the population, have been very helpful during International Youth Year. Their activities should be continued, and the exchange of programmes must be encouraged. Much remains to be done, especially in our countries, where the demcgraphic weight of young peonle is a burden for economies that have become particularly fragile as a result of the crisis and the instability of raw material prices. We are glad to see that the report on the situation of young people in 1980 mentions the effect of the aggravation of the external debt and the scarcity of credits on the situation of young peopleJ this analysis must be continued in order to bring out all the implications, and all the measures deriving from the situation as they affect both the organization and the various States. We once more commend the Organization for having taken this initiative to promote the involvement of youth in the establishment of a world in which peace and development could predominate. Before concluding we should like to recall that in this year, 1985, another important event took place which, like International Youth Year, is directed towards the development of all human resources. I refer to the conference in Nairobi. Special attention should be given to girls and young women in our search for the solution of the problems now being faced by young people. Young women have spQcific needs because of the prejudice that impedes their education and ~~eir access to remunerative employment and because of the risk they run of early and numerous pregnancies. My delegation hopes that there will be a deeper analysis of their situation in the next report on the situation of young people. It is fortunate and opportune that International Youth Year will be followed by the International Year of Peace, which was solemnly proclaimed on 24 October last. The young people whom we have so successfully mobilized throughout 1985 will, . as rece~t experience has demonstrated, make up a most important social force that will be able to free the world from its nightmmres and thus promote, against all odds, the cause of peace, which is the aim to which all mankind aspi~es. Mr. RAZZQOQI (Kuwait) (interpretation from Arabic): I should like to extend to Colombia our heartfelt condolences on the tragedy whi~h ~~ Wednesday last struck that friendly country and caused the loss of thousands of human lives. We should like to express our full s~lidarity with the Government and people of Colombia, and assure them that we shall provide any assistance necessary to alleviate the effects of the catastrophe suffered by the Colombian people. At its thirty-fourth session the General Assembly, in resolution 34/151 of 17 December 1979, decided to designate 1985 as International Youth Year: Participation, Development, Peace. It also decided, among other things, to On behalf of' Kuwait establish an intergovernmental Advisory Committee for the International Youth Year, to draw up, on the basis of a draft by the Secret4ry-General, guidelines for further planning and suitable follow-up in the field of youth. There is no doubt that the designation of 1985 as International Youth Ye&r and the work of the Advisory Committee fully reflect the wishes of the international community and indicate its understanding of the needs' and aspirations of young people, and of thelr creative potential, for the service of mankind as a whole. !nte~national Ycu~h Year and its activities are intended to make the international community more deeply aware of the problems and aspirations of young people so that they will be .more fully incorporated into the process of development in the world both as partners and as beneficiaries. According to world statistics, one in five of the present world population are young people, aged between 15 and 24. The current world population of young people is 922 million, representing 19.4 per c~nt of the total world population, and is expected to rise to 1 billion by the year 1990. That prospect must encourage us to work more actively so that we can benefit from their energies in &ny future strategy for the development and progress of our world. Young people are an essential sector of Kuwaiti society. If we take into ~~count the definition of young people as those between 15 and 24 years of 4ge, we find that they amount to 19.07 per cent of the total Kuwaiti population. That is why Kuwait pays particula~ attention to the well-being and protection of young people, and ensuring that they are properly trained so that they can meet their current needs in accordance with the ~rovisions of the Kuwaiti Constitution, which includes clear definitions of the responsibilities of the State to young people. ~ticle 10 of that Constitution provides that the State shall protect the young from exploitation and from any moral and spiritual harm. Article 40 provides that the State shall give special attention to the physical, DlOral and Ental development of young people. Other articles provide that the State shall assume responsibility for ensuring the well-being of young people, their freedom to come together in clubs and associations and to provide pUblic services. In our society, usistance to young people is ingrained in the moral values of Islam, which is based on moral principles that define the links between the individual and God and prescribe man's behaviour in this world. Kuwait feels that ~he question of the well-being of young people has a vast nuaber of different aspects. Since the training and education given young people should be designed to make them &S productive as possible, their physical, moral, intellectual, spiritual well-being must be protected in a conscientious manner. Ccmprehensive well-being means that all young people should be eonce~ned with both body and aind at all stages of their lives. The well-being of the young people of Kuwait ls an integral-part of Qxr society as a whole and not a separate and aiacrete category. Any young citizen has the same rights according to his needs as any other member oL society. The task of guaranteeing those rights is viewed as a collective responsibility assumed by the Scate and all its institutions as well as by institutions and bodies in the private sec~'~. we in Kuwait also try to strike a balance between the needs of the individual and those of society so that all aspects of life can be co-ordinated in the pUblic interest. K~wait's experience in providing for the well-being of its young people has been considerable, and the policy of the State in this area is based on means appropriate to our society. That enables us to work effectively with young PLople for their own benefit. Kuwait began working towards International Youth Year long ago, when we decided that 1985 should be preceded by thorough preparatory work so that the Year could be celebrated effectively. We in Kuwait felt that, in the decade following the Year, we should be able to decide upon long-term measures for follow-up and implementation of the decisions taken during the Year. In order to achieve that goal, we established a National Committee to prepare for International Youth Year under the chairmanship of the Assistant Secretary of State for Social Affairs and Labour and with the participation of representatives from various ministries and other bodies. The National committee felt that its strategy should be in conformity with that adopte~ by the United Nations Gener~l Assembly for the Year. The National Committee also defined the objectives K~wait planned to achieve through International Youth Year, namely, the integrated development of young people by its commitment to the principles 0", religion, justice and well-being, as well as their integration in socio-economic development plans and in plans designed to lead to world peace, so that young people could become useful citizens both to themselves and to society as a whole. Many proposals and recommendations were put forward during the drafting of guidelines for the follow-up to International Youth Year in planning various youth-related projects. These propoaals and recommendations are in keeping with those set forth iw the report of the Advisory Committee for the Inte~national Youth Year, document A/40/256, and complement them. The elements of the Year's theme, Participation, Development, Peace, are quite distinct, but they are also closely linked, and cannot be dissociated one from another. Kuwait'is in agreement with the aims set out in the guidelines, particularly the promotion of young peoples' awareness and increased recognition of their rights and aspirations by those in positions of responsibility, the promotion of programmes for young people as an integral part of development in the economic and social spheres, and the promotion of the effective participation of young people in society, particularly in the realization of cJeveloptaent and peace. Kuwait would like to emphasize the special importance of peace, since there can be no effective participation in· developllent w\thout peace. It is for that reason that we express our deep concern at the plight of young people enduringg occupation, apartheid and foreign domination, particularly in southern Africa and in occupied Palestine. Kuwait also feels that there is a need to encourage the participation of ~uung people in the task of improving, extending and strengthening contacts between the United Nations and themselves, through national, regional and international youth organizations. Kuwait encourage~ all international proposals and initiatives, particularly those made by the Unit~~ Nations, to supplement national initiatives on behalf of youth. In conclusion, I would like to stress that the major need of young PeOple is ensure that they are not kept aloof from the development process. TOclay, 40 years after the creation of- the united Nations, we should eliminate the obstacles that impede the effective participation of young people in the world's affairs and try to develop the means to realize our great aspirations for youth. Mr. SILI~JOIN (TOga) (interpretation from French): The delegation of TOgO joins its voice to that of preceding speakers who have expressed their condolences, solidarity and grief to t:1e people and Government of Colombia. I should like to convey to you, Sir, the congratulations of the delegation of Togo on your election to the presidency of the fortieth session of the General Assembly and on the brilliant manner in which you have guided its work, particularly this World Conference on Youth, which is the first in our Organization's history. I would also like to extend our congratulations to the Secretary-General. My country appreciates his devotion to our Organization's cause. since the second half of the 1960s young people throughout the world have been challenging society. Young people in fact had come back into the picture after the disaster of -the second World War which decimated a whole generation. The predominant demographic situation of young pea-ple in conjunction with progress in education gave them a means to ~e themselves- heard. They were no longer prepared to accept the precepts of a civilization that did not bear their stamp. 'TO make themselves understood, protest seemed to be the rule. Guvernments were shaken. After haVing taken in vaLi draconian measures agaList young people, Goverr.mants understood that they had to seek the root cause of the problem - by trial and error, if need be. We should stress here in this respect the role played by the United Nations. Foreseeing the danger inherent in generalized protest, the United Nations established a machinery for dialogue with young people throughout the world. United Nations institutions and specialized agencies took up the question by organizing regional and subregional seminars, and it is in that context that the International Youth Year and set up an advisory colIDDittee to prepare for it. My delegation takes this opportunity to pay a tribute to the Adv'isory ColIDDittee, whose activities resulted in the United Nations World Conference for Youth, which -is being held at this'moment. Youth is a complex phenomenon, one that is difficult to grasp. Contrary to what people tend to think, youth is not simply a transition in societYJ it is also a component of society that is shaped by society and in turn redirects the behaviour of society as a whole. TOday all those in government are realizing that young people can contr ibute a great deal in the search for solutions to the problems of the :J1orld. Aware as they are of their own potential and equally aware of the fact that everywhere tiley are among the first victims of any crisis, young people want to participate in the establishment of a n9W social order. Consequently, the· problems of youth are no longer limited simply to teach~.\g and health. Every political, economic, social, cultural and ecol09i~al problem affects them very closely, because by affecting society as a whole they affect young people . . spec!fically • In Togo young people play an important role in national construction. Politically, young people who were until recently. misunderstood, divided and exploited as political party militants ware giveni when General Gnassingbe Eyadema came to power in IS67, & more constructive role. Putting stress on youth, the Head of State set as one of his first objectives unity and peace inside national frontiers. Thanks to his constant attention, young people found themselves in a political body, the Assembleci Youth of the Togolese People (JRPr). Organized autonomously frc.m the ground up, young people participated actively in the life of the nation a~ all levels by being Iepresented in all governing bodies of the country. They are b,erefo~e aware of all questions of concern to the nation and they have the power Qf initiative in every sphere of the life o~ the country. In economic matters y~ung people also make a very substantial contribution. In agriCUlture, especially in 1977 when the Government decided to put into effect the policy of the Green Revolution and food ~elf-sufficiency, young people are resolutely committed to pcomotional activitiesJ moral, material and financial support for young modern farmers in both individual and collective farms. Through local, regional and national seminars, the J'RPr ensures that young people are made aware of the probleIilJJ of national and international development, North-South co-operation, South-South co-operation, and disarmament. The holding of each seminar leads to the launching of a mini-project in the locality where the meeting is held. The programming of national develc~ment submitted to the financing conference in Lame in June stressed the initiative of young people in all economic sectors, in particular ift the rural sector for the modernization of agriculture and the develo~ment of the pd.vate sector of the national economy. On the sUbregional, regional and international levels, Togo engages in youth exchanges with many friendly countries. Under tbese exchanges young people from Togo have been able to benefit from experiences especially in countries of the Conseil de l'entente, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Romania, the United States, canada, China and North Korea. The young people of Togo have had the privilege of acting as host to young people from other countries, sharing their experiences with them. If every country in the world would allow its young people to share their respective experiences, the world would be free of certain scourges, such as prejudice, misunderstanding and war. Young people would swap those concepts for mutual understanding and peace. What else do we need to build a better world? Inclusion of ~he young people of Toga in the decision-making process in all areas of national life, the development of social, educational, cultural and health services, the opportunity offered young people to be in contact with other experiences a~~ demonstrate my country's constant concern to enable young people to take over with dignity and full awareness what they are doing. As members here know, the economic crisis that is shaking the world spares no State, small or large. To cope with the rnasel arrival of young people on the labour market, ray country has taken specific and effective measures, in particular by limiting the number of years of effective service, a measure that is taken exclusively for the benefit of young people and that has freed more than 3,000 additional jobs in the national economy in 1985. International Youth Year strengthens convictions that are already anchored in our individual and national conscience. It is being set in operation in the political, administrative and other str~ctures and in all social strata in Togo. It has mobilized all press bodies of the country. A National Committee for International Youth Year was set up consisting of 36 members and is headed by the National General Delegate of Youth as co-ordinator and comprises, apart from representatives of young people, representatives from various ministerial departments interested in youth matters) representatives of various religions, of unions, ef women's organizations, of the chamber of commerce, of industry and of agriculture. An International YC'lth Year programme was adopted. Devised to be executed at all le~els of the organization of young people to ensure their heightened awareness in every social sector of the event, this 9rogramme was solemnly launched on 26 February 1985 during our national cultural week. As part of this programme we organized marches intended to support the policy of youth and development initiated by the Government and to show the attachment of young people to the peace and stability that has reigned in Togo for 18 years. They are also intended to mark the solidarity of Togolese youth with youth throughout the world, especially with those who are fighting for their national liberation. (Mr. Siliadin, Togo) International Youth Year marks an awareness of the more active role of youth in the world nowadays. Technological developments and greater democracy in education strengthen its capacities. Young people have sounded the alarm in the face of a world in disarray. This means that it has an ambition - it is seeking a better world. The programme to improve communication between the United Nations system and young people opens up very encouraging prospects. The willingness of youth and its desire for a better world are factors of hope, because they enable youth to espouse without difficulty the ideals pursued by our Organization for the past 40 years, that is, peace, international co-operation and mutual understanding between peoples and nations. The increasing demand, locally, nationally, regionally and internationally, for suitable machinery adapted to the demands of specific areas and specific periods of time, will make it possible to mobilize young people around programmes reflecting the main guidelines submitted to us for adoption to serve as a basis for our actions during the coming years. On the basis of experience, TOgo proclaims its faith in youth, and, quoting the President of the Republic, General Gnassingbe Eyadema, would say: RNo sacrifice is too great when the future of youth is at stake. R Mr. PLACIDE (Trinidad and Tobago): I could not begin this statement without first extending to the Government and people of Colombia the heartfelt condolences of the Government and PeOple of Trinidad and Tobago in connection with the catnstrophic occurrences of the past few days. In comparison with other nations represented here today my country is young. On 31 August 1985 we celebrated only our twenty-third birthday. As we enter our twenty-fourth year of full nationhood we are still growing and developing, and as we progress we find ourselves facing, albeit on a different level, many of the problems faced by the youth of the world. (Mr. Siliadin, TogO) Today's young people are most dramatically affected by declining economic fortunes. Unemployment risea to unacceptable levels and is accompanied by growing frustration. Even qualified and enthusiastic youth often find themselves excluded from effective integration into their national economies. Trinidad and Tobago~ as is the case with most develop~ng countries, is affected most acutely by the difficulties of an anachronistic international economic system. Frustration develops also when youth and a youthful country such as my own, encounter obstacles both overt and more subtle, whioh effectively hinder fair competition in the world of commerce and trade. Just as the relationship of young people with their elders has become increasingly fragile and wrought with misunderstanding, so have our relations with certan older more powerful nations suffered at times for the ~ne reason. In today's -global village-, the role of the mass media is unquestionably significant. It has brought the developed and developing worlds closer together. That is positive. But sometimes those outside influences take many young people away from their indigenous cultures, and this is a negative phenomenon. Trinidad and Tobago, which is proud to have given to the world the rhythms of calypso and the melodies of the steelpan, has ha4 considerable success in incorporating youth into the development of those art forms. But the sheer volume of media influences has made much more difficult the task of striking an appropriate balance between their benefits and disdvantages, and of passing on a true cultural legacy to the younger generations. But despite those obstacles, we in Trinidad and Tobago like to think that we possess some of youth's most enduring qualities, ingenuity, adaptability, perseverance and vigour. Consequently, we have tried in this and other forums to assert our ability to contribute to the development of a better, safer and more peaceful world. (Hr. Placide, Trinidad and Tobago) It is estimated that youth accounts for 19.4 per cent of the world's population. In Latin America and the Caribbean, some 20.2 per cent of the population are young persons. Almost one-half of the population of my country was not born at the time of the achievement of our independence in 1962. About one.-quarter of our population is und'3r 15 years of age, while another 23 per cent is between the ages of 15 and 24. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago needed to respond to this reality. Accordingly, a Ministry with special responsibility for Youth Affairs was established. To ensure the effectiveness of International Youth Year, in 1984 the Government appointed a National Co-ordinating Committee comprising 18 members of both governmental and non-governmental organizations. The National Co-ordinating Committee was presented with a number of challenges: to stimulate, plan and co-ordinate activities for the Year, to propose an agenda for national action in 1985i and to provide an action plan for the greater involvement of youth in agriculture, small business, housing, preservation of the environment and culture. The National Co-ordinating Committee has pursued its task with admirable zeal and success. Among the major activities organized throughout the year, in both the islands that constitute our Republic, were: a mini-Security Council debate intended to promote an orientaion of international understanding and peace among our youthi a national exposition entitled ·Youth in Housing·, encompassing exhibitions throughout Trinidad and Tobago, intending to advertise and demonstrate the career and employment possibilities for youth in housing, a Youth and Family Fair which for two weeks through exhibitions, demonstrations, and cultural activities emphasised the role of youth in the family, highlighted the role of the family in development, and honoured the achievements of young people in various fields of endeavour, an environmental awareness programme involving the planting of trees, the development of recreation and park areas" and the preservation of historical sites. As expected, this fortieth anniversary session has quite correctly been accompanied by a good deal of reflection on the merits of the United Nations and its efficacy in today's world. Certainly it is my delegation's view that critics of the Organization need only consider objectively the experience of this International Youth Year to gauge the enduring value of multilateral co-operation. In a broad sense, the Year, as noted by the Secretary-General in his report on the preparations and observance of the International Youth Year (A/40/70l) has successfully refined a new perspective on youth, and their ability to contribute to society. In this connection there is now a greater awareness of the need for fuller and more effective youth participation in society, both as a goal in itself and as a means of tmproving the prospects for the attainment of development and peace. In many countries, particUlarly the developing ones, the National Co-ordin~ting Committees have helped Governments establish contact with less formal organizations engaged in activities among the urban poor and other marginalized groups and thereby encouraging their "fuller participation in the p~ocess of development. It is recognized that development can be achieved only in an environment of peace. Youth lives with the constant fear that one day and without warning its entire future will be extinguished by nuclear confrontation. It is therefore not surprising that youth is in the vanguard of the international movement for di~logue, disarmament and peace. International Youth Year has contributed to the realization of a wider conception of peace. Through our efforts, many mOre people are now aware that the idea of peace encompasses such diverse components as social and economic justice, human rights and fundamental freedoms, mutual respect and sensitivity for other cultures, international co-operation and respect for human dignity and universal humanitarian principles. To summarize, therefore, an acceptable amount of progress has been made towards achieving the goals enunoiated for the Year. Despite our success, my delegation is well aware that considerable follow-up action must be taken both internationally and in our own countries to build on the achievements of the Year. For its part, Trinidad and Tobago is even now establishing a Youth Advisory Council to provide continuous appraisal of the situation of youth. In this connection, my delegation is pleased to join in sponsoring draft resolution A/C.3/40/L.3 which, inter alia, endorses the guidelines for further planning and suitable follow-up in the field of Youth and calls upon States and organizations to exert all possible efforts for the implementation of those guidelines. (Mr. placide, Trinidad and Tobago) As we continue our efforts on behalf of youth in the future, let us remember those young people who find themselves in the so-called marginal situations. Let us reflect on the plight of those urban youth outside the mainstream of society who are forced to drift into the morass of prostitution and drug addition and those young women who still encounter prejudice and discriminatino particularly when entering occupations traditionally occupied by men. Let us spare a thought for the migrants and refugees trying to adjust to an alien environment and for those young people for whom education is nothing more than a hazy dream. Most of all, let us never forget our brothers and sisters in South Africa who are engaged in their struggle to assert their very right to be treated not as chattels but as human beings. In other words, let us maintain our perspective. We have accomplished a great deal, but so much more remains to be done. Mr. HUSSAIN (Ma1dives): Another Member State of our Organization has fallen victim of an unforeseen natural disaster during this current session of the General Assembly. My delegation expresses its wholehearted sympathy to the Government and the people of Colombia. We are shocked by the tragedy which has taken incalculable human lives and proterty. We wish the bereaved families courage and patience during this most difficult time. The year 1985 was proclaimed by the United Nations as International Youth Year which, as we have witnessed, has attracted enormous world attention. It has added greater momentum to the existing dynamic process "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" and "to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social development of all peoples", which the United Nations Charter had undertaken. It has for the first time initiated a global effort to probe into the genuine problems affecting the youth of today and devise moda1ities towards alleviating their problems and finally eliminating the root causes. (Mr. Placide, Trinidad and Tobago) It embodies much hope for the youth that is eagerly looking for an atmosphere where the opportunity for self-realization is fully open. Today nearly 50 per cent of the population of the developing world is under 25 years of age. In the case of my country, 64 per cent of whose population is under 25 years of age, 20 per cent falls into the youth category. Hence the proclamation of =Internatiqnal Youth Year: Participation, Development, Peace" is particularly relevant to my country. The Government fully realizes this reality, which is clearly reflected in the country's developmental programmes. These programmes are shaped while taking full account of the importance of integrating the role of youth in all socio-economic activities. Great~r emphasis has been placed on involving youth at all levels of programmes that are geared to enhancing national development. We believe that International Youth Year has brought the specific issues related to the youth to the forefront of the decision-making bodies of nations. It has brought to recognition the fact that the youth of nations constitutes the most valuable and reliable asset for the future. It has also provided an occasion to review and reassess the interrelated nature of participation, development and peace vis-A-vis young people. The interrelationship cannot be ignored, nor can it be over-exaggerated. We are fully aware that in many countries of the world criminal elements in the society are in a great many instances found in the youth, the responsible factors being social neglect resulting in delinquency, unemployment causing frustration and alienation leading to that negative phenomena. The youth of the world today belong to the post-war generation. They were born with a more peaceful future ahead of them, whereas their parents were born either during or before the Second World War. Their preoccupation was either to deal with the spreading devastation of a war or to restore peace. They found their immediate future ahead on the battlefield. Their tasks were to deal with a situation where peace was an unrealized dream. Their natural aspirations for (Mr. Hussain, Maldives) educational advancement were met with frustrating setbacks. Notwithstanding, the youth of today live in a world which is thriving on technological advancement and scientific miracles. They are surrounded by a more stimulating environment. This important celebration provides an opportunity for youth to demonstrate their ability to exchange views, ideas and aspirations. They can cherish the satisfaction that they have been listened to and that their contributions have been taken account of. In general, this event has triggered a two-way communication which should foster understanding - an important prerequisite for peace. Such understanding must surely permeate the boundaries of nations. Thus greater trust can be established by the understanding of each other's ideologies, problems and common interes~s. The experience of my country is a happy one. OUr social structure promotes a greater positive influence on moulding the personality of our young people. They are able to see a future awaiting them which their older generations have paved. There is less conflict within the youth and less confusion as to their share or roles. We believe that this positive outcome would not have been possible without the serious efforts and dedication of the national authorities. I am happy to report here that the Government of Maldives has drawn up a very comprehensive and ambitious programme to celebrate this important event. The National Youth Council, which functions under the Office of the President, is directly responsible for carrying out the rich variety of activities. We have utilized all social sectors and the mass media to play an active role in the programme. World problems are brought to the attention of the youth to reflect upon, contemplate and promote positive intercourse. Creative activities are further incorporated in the form of art, public speaking and drama to add a dimension of entertainment. Sports events and festivals of culture and music have also been included. (Mr. Hussain, Maldives) The regular programme of activities carried out by the National Youth centre, which has a network of youth organizations throughout the 19 administrative atolls, is aimed at ~eveloping leadership qualities, sports and creative skills in our young people. There are frequent exchanges of youth group visits both across the atolls and with friendly nations. These opportuh~ties have contributed to the promotion of greater enthusiasm and vitality in OUI youth. The non-discriminatory policy exercised by the Government is clear evidence of the large number of young people who are assimilated into the higher civil service posts. I am also happy to add that my country has always provided equal employment opportunities for both men and women in all walks of life, and that is reflected in the life of young people. They assume responsibility readily and confidently at every available opportunity. we believe that education should be the key factor in fostering positive thinking and protecting youth against undesirable social ills. Hence, my country has given prime importance to providing that essential service to all citizens. It has made education affordable and accessible to people in all parts of the country. Such a service, however, is not without immense obstacles, posed by the geographical layout of the country. The 200 inhabited islands, scattered among 1,200 islands spread over an area of 90,000 square kilometres, involve great logistical complexity. OUr highways are the oceans, and the delivery of any basic service has to brave that highway, at the mercy of the prevailing weather conditions. Our Organization has, since its foundation, made its objective the promotion and maintenance of world peace. My delegation believes that our task is to ensure that future generations will inherit a safe world from us. Therefore, it is also our duty to prepare respc~~ible citizens who can perpetuate those noble objectives. The process set in motion by this International Youth Year, we believe, should continue, as all right actions and realities, by their very nature, hold eternal value. Hence, it is our wish that all good programmes and activities emanating from this im~Drtant event will find eternal life. Mr. ABUSULAYMAN (Saudi Arabia) (interpretation from Arabic): I wish at the outset on behalf of my delegation, to extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the volcanic disaster that has struck Colombia and taken a heavy toll in human life. On behalf of the delegation of Saudi Arab youth atte~din9 these meetings of the General Assembly on International youth Year, I convey the warm greetings of the youth of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and their firm leadership and to express the hope of Saudi youth that united Nations efforts in this field will be translated (Mr. Hussain, Maldives) into a better awareness among the peoples of the world and their leaders of the lofty purposes of the Organization - the maintenance of peace and progress. The increased scope of its efforts to further interest in, and awareness of, various issues concerning youth, who represent tbe future of mankind and future decision-making power, gives renewed hope for a better future, of which we are particularly pleased to be a part, and the opportunity to seek with the Assembly the attainment of its noble objectives. The march of the youth and the society of our ?' ingdom and the development and progress achieved in various economic, cultural and technological fields in a relatively short time give qs an overwhelming feeling of pride. OUr society has achieved the progress and development that will pave ~~e ~ay to a future for our youth that is bright and full of opportunity. Thanks to God, our youth will thus join other peoples relentlessly pursuing progress and development 0fforts. I should lihe to share with those present part of our experience and the basis of our achievements, in the hope that that will be of benefit to the youth of different countries. What distinguishes our achievement and experience is not only the enormous progress, development and technical and economic advantages for youth, but also the fact that the basic ele1ents of stability that characterize the social, political and family system have been maintained. It is also wotth reflecting on the experience of other peoples with increasingly alarming youth problems, alarmit~ not only for the future of youth but also for the future of the world, as they have an impact on whether it will achieve stability or deteriorate into further conflict and strife. It is worth thinking about the gr~at measure of progress that has been achieved without sacrificing stability or gradually taking the path of crime and violence. The major reason for that is the comprehensive view of Islam as it effects the life of man. The basic (Mr. Abusulayman, Saudi Arabia) perspective of Islam adopted by our people and its strong leadership is the unity of the moral, physical and spiritual aspects of the life of man. That coming together is the basis of the balance and stability that affects every aspect of the life of youth in our country and helps protect our youth against many problems from which the youth of today suffer. Our experience confirms that the successful provision of material welfare and different opportunities for youth, are based entirely on complete moral and spiritual welfaze. Youth cannot experience physical and financial welfare without that comprehensive welfare, provided through education. Therefore, it is not surprising that efforts that focus on the financial and technical aspects fail. Wealthy and affluent societies, unable to address the moral and spirit~al aspects in their education and cultural systems, are suffering many problems among their youth, including drug abuse and suicide. In many ways they are suffering more than other countries, even those that do not enjoy the same degree of progress and affluence. The importance of the role of leadership must be stressed. Our experience has taught us that the leadership of his Royal Highness King Fahd Ibn Abdulaziz, must be credited with the achievements of our youth today. It is important for leaders and educators to provide youth - in schools, colleges and universities, and even through the mass media - with an adequate idea of other people, their cultural and welfare systems and their accumulated wisdom, so that people may benefit from each other's wisdom and experience, and not only those of the wealthy and affluent. We must also eliminate misinformation about each other, so that we can pass on a wealth of experience to youth and guarantee that a spirit of co-operation and mutual respect will develop in their lives, because that is the basis of genuine progress, peace and stability. (Hr. Abusulayman, Saudi Arabia) The United Nations is called upon to further co-operation and collective wisdom in addressing issues relating to youth. That is the basis of our successful experience in taking care of our youth. Since development, progress and stability are genuine objectives for the future of the youth of the world, we must pause to discuss the issue of the oppressed people, including opp~essed youth, in the world today. Intellectuals and leaders must know that peace and stability will be achieved only through the realization of the overall dignity of the human person and the protection of the rights of youth of all nations, those rights and that dignity being an indivisible whole. Justice cries out for the human conscience to awaken to the denial of the fundamental human rights of young people, such as Palestinian youth and the youth of South Africa, to dignity, self~determinationand autonomy, and to demand an end to the persistent annihilation, killing, displacement, injustice and oppression to which they are subjected, in full view of the world, by tyrant, racist regimes. .(fir. Abusulayman, Saudi Arabia) Such racist practices must not be condoned through fear or in pursuit of short-sighted advantages. The international community must no longer allow these tyrannical practices to poison its conscience or undermine the efforts it makes to achieve a secure future for its youth, in which co-operation, justice, peace and security prevail and from which the spectre of fear and injustice disappear. Our youth and our people are appealing to all the peoples of the world for further co-op~ration, assistance and justice, and look forward to the day when the youth of the oppressed peoples will assume its place among the ranks of the youth of the rest of the world, without discrimination, oppression or injustice. Our people and our world earnestly hope that this International Youth Year will see the beginning of a real movement towards the construction of genuine relationships among the peoples of the world, the building of a new world free from poverty, injustice and fear. Mr. ABDEL-RABMAN (Sudan) (interpretation from Arabac)r I should like at the outset to express my condolences and sympathy to the delegation of Colombia in connection with the calamity caused by the volcanic eruption. We are confident that the people of Colombia, under its wise leadership, will transcend this tragedy and proceed ~, the path of construction and development. As we meet at this Conference today we realize, from the great effort~ undertaken on the occasion of the International Youth Year, the wisdom and far-sightedness of the General Assembly in proclaiming 1985 International Youth Year by its resolution of 17 December 1979. OUr appreciation increases in the light of the conditions prevailing in the world today and the threats it faces. We realize also the role that could be played by youth in confronting these threats. The concept of international co-operation is crystallizing and is becoming more imperative and urgent because of what youth can contribute to developing this Saudi Arabia co-operation and advancing it towards new horizons. In addition, the idea of participation has acquired a new positive and clear meaning as a result of the events which have highlighted the effective and universal role of youth. We in Sudan and in Africa generally are aware of the contribution made by youth from different parts of the world in terms of its noble participation in the task of alleviating the disasters caused by drought and famine on our continent. We fully realize the role that youth can play in this field. The convening of this Conference on the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations lends it a special importance because of the leading role that youth can play in promoting development and helping to maintain international peace and security through the establishment of ties of friendship and co-operation between different States of the world. This role is truly the core and the essence of the moral obligation to maintain international peace and security and to preserve the earth not merely as a place fit to be inhabited by people but also as a homogeneous environment, which is characterized by security au,u in which civilization can develop and renew itaelf. It is therefore necessary, at a time when we renew our commitment to the principles of the Charter and the objectives of the United Nations and express our desire that the Organization should play its full role. To reaffirm the role of youth and its participation in the task of making a better world for tomorrow. The participation of youth must be real and sound, not simply because of the functional importance of its participation but also because the better world to which we aspire will in reality be the world of the youth of today. In speaking of the participation of youth, my delegation is fully aware of what that implies, for such participation is rooted in our experience and in the modern history of my country. Indeed, the role of youth surfaced during the struggle against colonialism, which culminated in the achievement of our national independence. Later on there was the struggle against the first dictatorship, (Mr. Abdel-Rahman, Sudan) when a revolution was initiated by youth in October 1964, this was followed ~ a long, arduous struggle against the second military dictatorship which ended with the affirmation of democracy and popular participation on 6 April of this year. We reaffirm the commitment of Sudanese youth and its participation in the cnnstruction of our modern State and in political action, through democratic and . . popular organizations, including trade unions, and through other programmes and initiatives. In this connection we should mention the Sudanese Electoral Law, which has accorded the right to vote to persons aged 18 and reaffirmed the central role of youth in the election process, thereby reaffirming the role of youth in all other fields. International Youth Year has helped to arouse the conscience of the world about issues related to youth, in Sudan, which is deeply interested in special programmes relating to youth, we drew up programmes and plans which have yielded positive results, and all of them have brought out the best in Sudanese youth, increasing its awareness and its belief in its mission and its role. In view of the importance my country attaches to issues related to youth, a few years ago it . J established a National Youth Council and formed the Sudanese Committee for the Observance of International Youth YeaF, which has discharged its responsibilities seriously and effectively. My country has also participated in special meetings and seminars at the regional and international level on International Youth Year. Our efforts in the field of youth, aimed at enabling youth to play its full role, have been increasing over the years. However, difficult economic conditions and the effects of the international economic crisis have affected all aspects of life in my country and have had an adverse impact on programmes for youth, because the resources available for such progr..-es have diainished in real teras. moreover, these prograame& are also accorded a lower degree of priority at the present tbae. Another important point is the problea of unemployment amng young people, inclUding very highly qualified young persons, as prograDllles for youth will be meaningless 1f their efforts and creative capabilities reaa1n unused. we therefore stress the ~~rtance ot the work undertaken by the Advisory Committee, which has paved the way for the effective use of a comprehensive framework for action towards an improvement in the situation of youth, in accordance with the Secretary~neral·sreport (A/40/70l). This document contains important guidelines on policies that could be approved by governments and the United Nations system in their efforts to achieve the objectives of International Youth Year - development, participation and peace. These guidelines could provide the foundation for the implementation of many programmes on the political and social levels and for dealing with such important issues as unemployment, illiteracy, the food problem, health education and so on. My delegation will pay special attention to these guidelines within the framework of economic and social action, but we should indicate that certain priorities must be maintained. In this respect, the efforts of my country will be focused on addressing the problem of food in a radical fashion to enable us to attain self-SUfficiency in the production of food, the optimum exploitation of the agricultural sector, protection of the environment and success in combating desertification and drought. All those areas are important areas in which the role of youth"acquires a special significance. Our efforts will also be devote~ to developing education and increasing its links with the community and the environment, with special attention to the role of youth. While we attach special importance to the attainment of the objectives of International Youth Year, we believe that the implementation of the Internaticnal Development St~ategy for the Third Development Decade will mean a great deal in improving the situation of youth in my country. If my delegation were to attribute particular importance to anyone category of yo~th, it would focus attention on that of the physically handicapped, not because this category has been prevented from keeping up with general activities of life but because it has played a very helpful role in tmproving the situation of youth. The handicapped are able to transcend the barriers of their disabilities, reject negativity and become effective members of the community. The delegation of Sudan does not see in this COnference the end of International Youth Year but rather the beginning of serious and intensified action to achieve the objectives of the year. If we are going to make efforts at the level of Governments and of the United Nations and its agencies to achieve these objectives, we wonder what will become of youth in Palestine and the occupied Arab territories, in South Africa and in Namibia. These, as we know, are young people living in total isolation from the objectives of International Youth Year, because they are subjected to persecution and deprived of their fundamental rights. The better world of tomorrow to which we aspire must of necessity be based on mutual respect, understanding and tolerance and these are the values that we have to implant in the youth of today to bring these seeds to fruition tomorrow. This means that we must combat systems and ideologies based on prejudice and racism. Mr. BOLOURIAN (Islamic Republic of Iran): I wish to extend my greetings and condolences ~o the PeOple of Colombia und our young friends in that country who have faced the manifestation of natural disaster. May God grant them patience. People of my age and experience can hardly even dream of speaking before the United Nations General Assembly. For this unique and unspeakably precious opportunity that has fallen to my lot, and indeed on behalf of my peers in the Islamic Republic of Iran, I wish to salute the United Nations for holding this International Youth Year. (Hr. Abdel-Rahman, Sudan} My first experience of speaking at the General Assembly happens to be under the presidency of Mr. de Pinies. Allow me, therefore, to congratulate him on presiding over the fortieth session of the General Assembly during the celebration of International Youth Year. I assure him that he has the full endorsement of all youth. I wish to begin my statement with some verses from the Holy ~oran which tell us the story of one of Allah'~ prophets. That these verses relate to his years of youth, in fact to the prime of his youth, is important and relevant. He is Joseph, the prophet of youth. He was renowned as a handsome younc;J servant in the governor's house, where the lady of the house tried to seduce him. "Come", she said, "and take me". But Joseph - may peace be upon him - abstained and was therefore threatened with being thrown into prison. He then turned to Allah and said take refuge in God from Satan the accursed. "0 my Lord, the prison is more to my liking than that to which they call me. Yet if you do not turn away their guile from me I shall yearn towards them and so become one of the ignorant. So his Lord answered him and turned away from him their guile. Verily He is the All-hearing and All-knowing." That is how God-fearing men hav~ resisted the strongest temptation. The occasion of the International Youth Year has been full of excitement and joy for me from the very beginning. To begin with, my travel by aeroplane from Tehran to New York was an unprecedented experience, and it was very exciting indeed throughout the journey. I was overwhelmed by the joy and excitement of my anticipatory thoughts in imagining the actual occasion of International Youth Year in New York. (Hr. Bolourian, Islamic Republic of Iran) I visualized how nice it would be to address an assellbly of my peer: groups from all over the globe and to be addressed by each one of them, to hear their comments, their views, their criticisms and their expectations. I thought that the language, the manners, the courtesy and even the ritual parts of their state.ents would be of a style slightly different from those of the statements which are customarily presented to the Ge~leral Assembly by our elders. I thought how fascinating it would be for our elders, the distinguished professional diplomats who have spent an age in this profession and are enriched by years of knowledge and experience, just to sit and watch how their sons and daughters, the next generation, would think and talk in this assembly. 1 thought that our experienced adults would try to read the future map of the world while sitting in the background, listening to the statements of youth and watching their behaviour and joyful exchange of ideas. I also thought that I was actually going to see my peer groups from all over the globe~ I would shake hands with them~ I would see in them how 1 would look, how 1 would feel and what I would say if I had come from some other part of the world. F~public of Iran) As the Assembly knows very well, youthful expectations and imagination are very fresh, exciting and buoyant. But they are not only youthful traits. I am sure that the distinguished, knowledgeable professional adults and elderly diplomats are equally frustrated, as 1 am, by the absence of what they, as well as 1, expected to observe in the course of this otherwise joyful occasion of International Youth Year. But for me the occasion is still exciting and educative and very joyful indeedJ educative and eX~iting because I am learning from live p~~!ammes what 1 would otherwise have to read about in a dead 1,000-page United Nations document or maybe in more than 100 newspapers all over the worldJ and·joyful indeed because 1 can tell ~ friends back home that the whole world counts on us, that the whole world cares for all of us, all over the globe, thinks about us and talks about us, has concern for our well being, education, health and happiness, that they speak of these good things with all sincerity and compassion. But they do not give us a chance to participate, which we all know and can understand. 1 have listened carefully to the excellent statement made by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. I believe that his statement was complete and contained in it all that a rich and comprehensive statement is expected to cover. To my understanding, his was'a real representation of the ideals of the international body regarding youth all over the world. When back home, I will tell my friends and contemporaries about it. 1 would also request of all of you to tell our friends in your respective countries that we fUlly agree with, and appreciate what the Secretary-General said. Please tell them that we in the Islamic Republic of Iran consider his statement as a very agreeable framework for a constructive international plan of action for our future. Please tell our peers in your respective countries that the young people of the Islamic Republic of Iran hate wars, we hate chemical weapons so much, they are deadly, torturous and awful, we (LA.r. Bolourian, Islamic Republic of Iran) hope that they will never come to you. Tell them that we pray to God th&t, !neha I J.l.1 lah, your neighbours around you are sane and healthy human beings and would not throw chemical bombs, cluster bombs, Frog and Scud missiles on your schools and -. '. . your residential areas, on your congregations and your classrooms even when at war. Please tell them that we hate all aggressors and aggression and that we are surprised that some people want to pardon the criminal aggressors. Please tell them that we are determined to punish the aggressor. I would also request you to tell our peers and friends in your respective countries that we love them all, that we have changed the face of our beautiful country, which was once used as a stable for tens of thousands of foreign military advisers and officers•. Please tell them that in the Islamic RepUblic of Iran we have a chance to participate. We participate in elections when we are 15 and we can enter Parliament when we are in our twenties. Please tell our friends that last week we opened another University in Tehran which can accommodate 20,000 of us. Please tell them that the Baseej, the Jihad-e-Sazandegi and the SePah-e-Pasdaran belong to young people. They are our youth clubs, where we play and plan, work, study, create, compose, write, draw~ paint, invent, learn to fight aggressors, construct and reconstruct, develop and grow. Please tell them that during my stay in New York, another young brother, who entered the office of the Governor of Kerman in his early twenties two or three years ago, has just become the Governor of that Province. Please tell them that under the banner of Islam, in Iran we are fully accepted and recognized and not simply praised and patronized. Please tell them that I had an awful lot to tell them about our revolution and much more to hear from them had I met with them on this occasion and finally give our love and Salaam from the Islamic RepUblic of Iran to all of them. And finally, to you Mr. president, my love and Salaam too. Mr. NISAR (Pakistan): Pakistan welcomes the convening of the United Nations World Conference for International Youth Year. The Government of Pakistan has observed International Youth Year through various activities at the national level, incl~ding cultural programmes, newspaper supplements, television and radio coverage, seminars, posters and painting competitions, sports events and the issuance of a special commemorative stamp. During the year the Government of Pakistan also organized a three-day International Youth Conference in the country. Human civilization represents the accumulated accomplishments and follies of preceding generations. Youth is the inheritor 'of this civilization and the instrument for its development and perpetuation. It must be admitted that the world which our youth will inherit tomorrow is an imperfect one. Although we have not witnessed a world war for the past 40 years, peace has not been preserved. The 150 wars that have been fought in the past four decades have taken, and continue to take, an unacceptable toll of human life including those of young people, even ch:' lren. We live in a world which is but one step from a nuclear holocaust. Global peace depends on a balance of fear rather than commitment to justice and humanism. The nuclear stand-off between the major Powers on the old battlefield of Europe has transferred their competition and conflicts to the new nations of the third world. Thus, in the past 40 years, we have witnessed a series of acts of aggression and violation of the United Nations Charter in the continents of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Unfortunately, new players have also joined in the game of power, leading to the horizontal as well as the vertical proliferation of the arms race. Today, the arms race consumes $1 trillion each year, robbing the peoples of the world of the chance for genuine economic and social development. Indeed, world economic relations also reflect the desire of the powerful and the strong to preserve their privileges. The march of human progress during the past four dec&des has been extremely uneven, accentuating the gap in living standards between the rich and the poor. Today we witness the paradoxes of extreme affluence and absolute poverty. ~eace and progress cannot be sustained in a world which ie so unequul and so unjust. The arrogance of power and the anger of poverty equally threaten world order. In its innocence, youth perhaps sees realities more clearly than those who enjoy the privil®ge of power, whose perceptions are often coloured by the prism of their own experience and interest. But the response of youth must also be tempered by realism a,~ a recognition of its responsibility. Th~ y~v: people of today are the hope of mankind. They must realize that although the prevailing state of the world presents awesome challenges, it also offers unprecedented opportunities~ Progress in science and technology, and in human thought and institutions, has created the pre-conditions for building a new, just and durable political, economic and social order. What can youth do to achieve this new and just order? There are tb~ee goals which are para.ount: achievement~! durable peace, real disarauent and ce-pcahensive developlent. First, the realization of durable peace has been obstructed so far by the disregard for justice. The vast majority of mankind, which has no interest in the gaae of power, IlUst find effective ways and seans to iapose the dictates of justice in each and every quest for peace. Secondly, the fate of mankind cannot be 'J&Crificed at the altar of the national interests of one, two or a few countries. The peoples of the world must rise as one to demand: that the nuclear-aras race be balted and reversed, that the use and possession of nuclear weapons be universally outlawed, that an arms race be averted in outer spaceJ and that effective measures be taken to restrain the destruction and waste represented by the use of and escalation in conventional armaments the world over. Thirdly, to be sustained, develoPMent Wlst be promoted universally. The latent economic potential of the third world is the only hope for continued expansion of world economic production and living standards~ The developed and developing countries are interdependent. The dictates of justice, rationality and self-interest coincide. It is a happy augury that the convening of the World Youth Conference has coincided with the celebrations this year of the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations. At a dinner hosted by the Secretary-General on 24 October this year, at the conclusLGn of the comme.arative ceremonies, the President of Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the leaders present, stated: ·How, peace is indivisibleJ the danger of nuclear devastation is realJ war should be unthinkable. ·We .ust break from the doctrines and philosophies of the past which provide cover for aggression and hegemony. OUr nations are dependent on each (Hr. Hinr, Pakistan) other for their development, security and survival. Diplomacy must no longer be regarded as an extension of waq it should be a vehicle for peaceful coexistence and co-operation. -In this increasingly interdependent world, States have no alternative to Dutual co-operation and collective action through the united Nations. Indeed, the United Nations remains an embodiment of mankind's hope for a just, peaceful and prosperous world-. At this World Conference, the youth of the world must reaffirm the COMmitment of the next generation to the United Nations, wh~se central purpose is -to save succeeding generations from·the scourge of warM. Mr. BAGBENI ADEITO NZENGEYA (Zaire) (interpretation from French): The delegation of Zaire is happy to associate itself with all the delegations that have congratulated the Chairman of the Advisory Committee for the International Youth Year, Mr. Nicu Ceausescu, on successfully carrying out the mandate entrusted to him to prepare the present United Nations WOrld Conference for. the International Youth Year, whose main themes are participation, development and peace. The devotion and energy with which the Chairman of the Advisory Committee organized this Conference, in close co-operation with the United Nations secretariat and the National Committees established by Member States, shOws "the , interest and great tmportance attached to the complex problems of youth in today's world. The international community must become more aware of the situation of youth, with a view to recognizing the rights, aspirations and aptitudes of young people to participate more actively and dynamically in the development of society. The aim of the concrete and complete programmes for the achievement of those objectives should ~ to stimUlate the mind of young people, to encourage the emergence of the ideals of peace, mutual respect and understanding among peoples, (Mr. Nisar, Pakistan) while taking account of the similarities as well as the differences among them. By their commitment to the spirit of international peace and security, the youth of today, which represents the future generation, will be able to understand the requirements of the economic, social and cultural development of their respective countries, through increased and approp~iate commitment and participation. The observance of International Youth Year therefore seems to be eloquent proof of the determination of the United Nations to engage in a thorough consideration of the many problems of youth, desirou$ of sharing responsibilities, contributing new ideas about the reconstruction and development of their countries and taking on functions that are in keeping with its capabilities and position in society. In a word, that shows the magnitude of the task required to set in motion a wide programme for the education, training and development of young leaders, to make them more capable and efficient and better prepared morally to play this role. In Zaire, having in mind the specific nature of youth, with all the implications that the question of youth can have within the nation, the Founder-President of-the Popular Movement of the Revolution and President of the Republic of Zaire, Marshal oMobutu Sese Seko, had the foresight, immediately on his accession to power in 1965, to make one of his main concerns the organization and staffing of the Youth Movement in Zaire. ThUS, in 1966 the Volunteer COrps of the Republic was established and one year later, in 1961, it was integrated into the State Party, the Popular Movement of the Revolution, with the title ftYouth Wing of the Popular Movement of the Revolution-. The Youth wing of the Popular Movement of the Revolution in Zaire has the status of a Department, headed by a State Commissioner, or Minister, who is assisted by a Secretary of State for Youth and also by an administrative organization under his authority. (Mr. Bagbeni Adeito Nzengeya, Zaire) Throughout the Republic of Zaire, at the level of each regional capital, a regional division of the Youth Wing of the Popular Movement of the Revolution deals with the day-to-day problems of the identity of young people and their particular needs and specific cult~;al Characteristics. The primary talBk of the Youth Department is to give high priority to the mobilization of young people and their integration into the deveJ~pment p~oceas, us well as the leadership of the very young, from elementary school through secondary school and university, up to their reclassification and recruitment into the managerial elite of the country. Within the specific fra~ework of the Department of the Youth Wing of the Popular ftbvement for the Revolution, other programmes designed for young people facing a variety of other problems have also been set in motion, with the aim of eliminating illiteracy, struggling against juvenile delinquency, bringing young people back to farming activities, rehabilitating young handicapped and blind. persons and re-educating young unwed mothers by means of apprenticeships in various trades ·and by social reclassification. I".l (Mr. Bagbeni AdeitoNzengeya, Zaire) At the higher education level, the university and technical level, numerous reforms have been set up in order to adapt the training ne~s of young leaders to those of the process of the econcmic and social development of the country. The gap which existed at the outset between university teaching on the one hand and technical and vocutional teaching on the other has been reduced, thanks to the adoption of specific programmes aimed at increasing the number of technical and professional teaching establishments. This vast programme which was undertaken b¥ the Executive Council of Zaire at the beginning of the Second Republic, when zair~ had only about 15 young university leaders in 1960, at the 'present time has enabled my country to have approximately 30,000 young leaders trained through universities. There is no need to underline here the financial efforts which were undertaken by Zaire in order to support this action in the field of training of young people and for which-Zaire devotes nearly 20 per cent of its yearly budget. It is also to be noted that Zaire observes 14 October each year, the anniversary date of the birth of the President founder of the Popular Movement of the Revolution, President Ma~shal Mobutu Sese Seko, all over the Republic as the The delegation of Zaire would like to express before the international community its concern about the situation of young people in South Africa and Namibia where any hope for an improvement in their living conditions, taking i~to account their deep aspirations to make their contribution to the development of their country, is destined to be stultified by the racist authorities of South Africa. The killings, massacres and imprisonments which the young people of South Africa undergo make it necessary to give special attention to their claims. My delegation would like to propose that a message of support be addessed by the present world Conference celebrating International Youth Year to the young • people in sOuth Africa through their liberation movements, the African National Congress (ANC), the Pan African Congress (PAC) and the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), the authentic representatives of the peoples of Anzania and Namibia. The delegation of Zaire is a sponsor of several draft resolutions which have been drawn up within the framework of the celebration of International Youth Year in order to show its interest and commitment to ~he principles, aims and objectives pursued by the United Nations, in order to bring to young people of all nations represented here the support, leadership, solicitude and organization necessary for their development and full participation in the development of all nations in peace and security. In this vein, international co-operation, as a dynamic element in the relationship tetween various countries, can certainly facilitate the technological and capital transfer in the form of a new investment from developed countries to developing countries in order to enable them to carry out their policies involving the rational and maximum utilization of the human resources which are represented by their youth. In conclusion, I should like to address the condolences of my delegation to the delegation of Colombia for the loss in human life and material damage that they have just suffered as a result of the recent volcanic eruption. Mr. DAHMANI (Algeria) (interpretation from French): Let me first join my voice with those of the delegations which have spoken before me in orde~ to express, in the name of my country, our deep sympathy with the people and Government of Colombia following the tragedy which struck that country. (~. Bagbeni Adeito Nzengeya, Zaire) It is most encouraging to note that, despite the international political and economic situation which our world has experienced over the last few years, which is characterized, arrong other things, by the persistence of the world economic crisis, the exacerbation of the imbalance in economic relations between developing countries and developed countries, the exacerbation of regional conflicts, the speeding up of the arms race, the increasing threat of a devastating nuclear war, the return to the philo~ophy and strategy of zones of influence, a breakdown of dialogue and the immobilization of mUltilateral co-operation and the inadequate relationship between the international monetary and financial system and the contemporary realities, there is a motive of optimism and· hope. It is the success which has been achieved by the celebration of the International Youth Year. This success, which is measured by the considerable progress achieved in the implementation of the aim of the International Youth Year, namely the datermination of Member States to improve further the situation of young people through national activities of a varied and consistent nature, the establishment today of 158 national co-ordinating committees, or other similar structures, gives the Year a unique character among the events that have taken place thus far. The considerable interest shown over the last few years in different parts of the world in the specific concerns and problems of youth, and the massive and effective participation of youth in the preparation of the International Youth Year is due essentially to the symbol which youth itself represents. Youth, its potential for energy, imagination and creativity, and its ability constantly to give a new impetus to the dynamic evolution of societies and nations, represents the hope of nations, the future of humanity itself. Because of its own characteristics youth co~stitutes a permanent social category particularly sensitive to the developments which mark these societies and the present day world. By its numbers and potential (Mr. Dahmani, Algeria) it also represents a force which is able to contribute significantly to shaping mankind. Brought up respecting the universally accepted noble, moral and spiritual values, convinced of the principles of equality, of the rights of peoples and individuals, the ethic of justice, equality and liberty, aware of the dangers which the persistence of colonialism, neo-colonialism, apartheid, Zionism, racial discrimination, the violation of the right of peoples to self-determination, aggression, foreign occupation and the arms race represent for the survival of mankind, youth can bring its contribution to the dawning of a new world. That is the meaning that the Algerian delegation gives to the celebration of International Youth Year. It is alsO the aim of the various activities and programmes it has chosen to implement. In the context of the celebration of International Youth Year, Algeria, where nearly 60 per cent of the inhabitants are less than 18 years old, has, like other countries, organized a certain number of activities throughout its national territory. A national co-ordinating committee for International Youth Year has been created and placed under the Chairmanship of the Minister for Youth and Sports. Regional committees have also been established within each department and commune. (Mr. Dahmani, Algeria) The National Co-ordinating Committee for International Youth Year has set up a concrete programme of measures and activities the principal aim of-which is better to prepare young people to participate actively in all fields of national development and to persuade the local organizations and authorities to tackle the problems of youth more forcefully. The programme comprises a wide range of measures aimed at stepping up the participation of young people in the political, social and economic and cultural life of the country, and making it possible for them to improve their living conditions in the fields of work, study, everyday life and leisure. This programme has been drawn up on the basis of the principles underlying the policy laid down by the Government in the field of youth and taking into account the recommendations made by the United Nations for the celebration of the International Youth Year. Algeria considers the designation of 1985 as International Youth Year by the United Nations to be an impo~tant and timely initiative which reflects the objective need to increase the role of youth in the political and economic life of the societies and to enhance their contribution to international peace and co-operation. The general strategy adopted in this connection by the United Nations is a long-term strategy aimed at increasing the participation of youth in all fields of social, economic, cultural and political development. Algeria, which has actively supported this strategy, particularly within the Advisory Committee for the International Youth Year, of which it is a member, defined the three main phases for its implementation at the national level as follows. (Hr. Dahmani, Algeria) The initial phase - that is, ~fore 1985 - was devoted to reinforcing intersectoral co-ordination, drawing u~ a programme for the second national five-year plan and finally consideration of a programme of activities for the International Youth Year. The second phase -.that is for 1985, the International Youth Year itself - concerned the organization of events and activities in accordance with the programme as well as the periodic evaluation of the results, particularly as regards the participation of youth in development. Finally, the third phase - which will extend from 1986 to 1989 - will be the implementation phase of the programme established within the framework of the second five-year plan, evaluation of implementation of the calendar of yearly activities and revision of the programmes and planning in favour of youth as a contin~ing process of development during the ten-year period 1986-1995. The main objectives of the programme of action for 1985 were to contribute to the extension of a comprehensive and continuing programme of education of youth, to work for the expansion of the volunteer movements annng young people and its orientation towards the achievement of youth projects, to provoke the involvement of youth in increasing production and improving productivity within the economic units, to increase cultural activities, extra-curricular activities, and cultural and scientific exchanges and manifestations and, finally, to reinforce the means of information and the awareness and popUlarization of all activities organized by young people and for the benefit of young people. The implementation of this programme, which comes under the united Nations theme of ·Participation, Development, Peace·, has been based on subjects relating at the same time to national life and to the aspirations and needs of youth and has been effected through the organization of national campaigns competitions and (Mr. Dahmani, Algeria) exhibitions, particularly in the following fields: youth and the family, youth and production; youth and the environm~nt; youth and culture; sports; science and technology; and, finally, youth and international peace and understanding. These activites, which have taken the form of seminars, discussion meetings, exhibitions, information seminars, weeks of volunteer work, national study days, round-tables and so on, have sparked enthusiasm in Algerian youth and have attracted massive participation by young people. The programme ofactiviti~s chosen by my country to celebrate the International Youth Year also comprises regional and communal youth forums, which should enable young people in various parts of the country, as well as young Algerian emigrants, to present their best achievements in the artistic, cultural and scientificc fields, to participate in discussion conferences, to organize cultural and sporting events and to support volunteer work. It also comprises the organization of Volunteer workshops, a national youth festival, national competitions for youth in various fields, such as journalism, audio-tape recordings, toy-making and photography, the implementation of exchange and tourism programmes for young people, entitled -Getting to know Algeria-, and the establishment and celebration of the national day of International Youth Year. The.principal event organized by Algeria for the celebration of the Year had been the National Youth Festival. This Festival, which was the first of its kind, will henchforth be held every four years. Its aim is to inspire young people to commit themselves to the ideals of peace and justice, the principles of the revolution and the spiritual and cultural values of the Algerian nation; to encourage a spirit of emulation and a current of creation and production in various fields. The Festival took place from 4 to 13 July 1985 and included the organization of cultural exchanges, national sports, scientific activities and (Mr. Dahmani, Algeria) In another field, I should like to note that since independence Algerian youth has had the bens~it of completely free education, which is compulsory bewtween the ages of 6 and 17. The State every year "devotes a quarter of its budget to education. This year in Algeria the schools have enrolled more than 5 million children, and 85 per cent of the school-age population attend school. The proportion of young girls attending school, which was 12 per cent at the time of independence, has been the subject of a particularly significant development arising from the profound changes which have tak.en place in pUblic thlh~ing and from the social attitudes resulting precisely from the progress in education. It is today around 80 per cent and the lag will be completely made up by 1990. The education given is all-round, mUltidisciplinary and free, as I have said, and it is also compUlsory. At university level the number pf stud~nts, which at independence was negligible, as a result of colonialism, is now 96,000 undergraduates and 5,000 post-graduates. Algerian youth, like the rest of the society, has the benefit of free medical care. Cultural centres designed to promote the creatiVity and development of youth have been set up in each district. In Algeria young people have their own organization, the National Union of Youth, through which they participate actively in the political, social and economic life of the country. I would like to end my statement by expressing the solidarity of the youth of my country with the young people in Palestine, Namibia, Western Sahara and South Africa and with all young people throughout the world who are struggling with their peoples against colonialism, racism, racial discrimination, apartheid, zionism, and foreign aggression and occupation. (Mr. Dahmani, Algeria) Mr. Madar (Somalia): Before I address m¥self to the agenda item, I should like to express the heartfelt and deep sympathy felt by my Government and the Somali PeOple - (Ispecially the youth - to the Government and the people of Colombia at the serious natural disaster that has befallen so large an area in their country. I am delighted to have this opportunity, on behalf of my Government, to assure the world community of the full support of the Somali nation for this International Youth Year, with the theme and objectives ·P~rticipation, Development, Peace·. The Government of the Somali Democratic Republic is, in the words of General Assembly resolution 39/22 of 21 December 1984: ·Convinced of the imperative need to harness the energies~ enthusiasms and creative abilities of youth to the tasks of nation-building, the struggle for self-determination and national independence, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, against foreign domination and occupation, and for the economic, social and cultural advancement of peoples, the implementation of the new international economic order, the preservation of world peace and the promotion of international co-operation and understanding". The governing Party in m¥ country has been, and still is, the pioneering force in the struggle of the Somali people, both young and old, to make the most of their environment and resources and to safeguard the cultural values which have long led them to care for one another. Soon after the 21 October Revolution in 1969, the Central Committee of the Party established and organized social groupings and co-operatives in Somalia consisting of workers, women and youth, for no meaningful association had previously existed. The Somali Democratic Youth Association has since enthusiastically accepted and. developed the role offered, actively participating in new ventures initiated by the Government, such as the campaign against illiteracy, environmental control and expanded. Self-help has always been a major theme, for example, in the eOnst~uction of spo~ta g~Ound6 and cultural centres for the positive use of leisure time. But whenever our youth meet to discuss the vital issues of today, the hand of friendship ia extended to all, especially to the youth in Palestine, Namibia, South Africa, the Horn of Africa and other areas of the third world, who are struggling and confronting evils such as persistent colonialism, racism and the denial of human rights, including the right to self-determination and to a decent standard of living and economic well-being. Today we should certainly pay more attentiml to the ~ole of young people in the world of today, to their ideas and initiatives and to their demands for the world of to~orrow. This Internationai Youth Year is also expected, among its guidelines on further planning and suitable follow-up, to lead to a long-term plan of action. Somalia places high value on the loyalty, industry and overall contribution of our youth, and undertakes to make every effort to consolidate and build further on the results of International Youth Year, particularly in the areas of conununication, housing, literacy, culture, youth employment and education. We should lay emphasis on the rights of youth to employment and education, and we should call for long-term plans for the ~plementation of these goals. In Somalia, as elsewhere in the developing world, as the Secretary-General has pointed out in his report on National Experience in Promoting the Co-operative Movement contained in document E/l98S/l0 of 11 January 1985, paragraph 25: "People in the lS to 25 age-range ••• have borne a heavy share of the social and economic burden arising from the recession years". Even so, the commitment of our nation's youth has stood the test proving itself in the long-term famine in 1974J in the hardships associated with regional struggles for self-determination; in the ongoing emergency created by flows of refugees and when drought and famine recurred on an even greater scale in recent times. (Hr. Madar, SOmalia) We particularly welcome the initiative of the Government of Austria to organize and host an inte~natlonal symposium of experts to help focus attention on the problems faced by youth in this day and age. In this context, one initiative that is called for is quite vital to my country. I refer to the development of the employment field of ·protection of the environment". Disasters, both man-made and natural, and harsh climatic variations have of late led to severe deterioration of the arable"lands, and particularly the range-lands, in my country. Drought and'desertification seri~lsly threaten the environmental heritage of our youth. Conscious of our responsibilities to today's youth - tomorrow's full citizens - my Government has lent every support to co-operative ventures in this area. In short, Somalia welcomes the increasing emphasis on the role of youth, and firmly supports the aspirations, activities and the resolutions concerning this International'Youth Year. Mr. DrAS SILVA (Mozambique) (spoke in Portuguese~ English text furnished by the delegation): it was with a deep sense of sorrow that we learned of the recent events in Colombia that have resulted in the loss of many human lives. On this sad occasion, I wish to express, on behalf of my delegation, our sincere condolences to the people and the Government of Colombia. I should like to express our deep gratitude for the privilege extended to us to participate in this United Nations Conference for International Youth Year: Participation, Development, Peace. The designation of 1985 as International Youth Year is indeed a clear indication of the continuing international concern for young people. The programmes and activities undertaken in the preparation for International Youth Year has resulted in an increasing awareness and concern for the situation of youth. (Hr. Madar, Somalia) These years have not only demonstrated the willingness and certainly the . eagerness of youth to participate in society, but have also proven that young people can be active partners and not passive recipients of the benefits accruing from the years. In our country youth participates actively in all aspects related to the political, economic: social and cultural fields. They represent the majority of the population of the People's Republic of Mozambique. About 70 per cent of our population is below the age of 29. Hence any development plan must be conceived with youth in mind. The State and its institutions have as their fundamental goals the education and enhancement of Mozambican youth with a view to the elimination of illiteracy, which is still around 72 per cent. In 1975, the year Mozambique achieved national independence, illiteracy was about 90 per cent. In the circumstances the educational sector is of fundamental Lmportance. Major efforts have been directed towards the training of schoolteachers and the construction of schools, with the aim of improving the quality of instruction. Technical and professional ·training is therefore of particular relevance in this gigantic undertaking. Youth involvement in all spheres of political, economic,·social and cultural life is a sine qua non for freedom, democracy and progress. In this context. the proper utilization 'of youth's energy, enthusiasm, vitality and creative capacity in overall national development constitutes an imperative necessity. The task of teaching youth the ideals of peace and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is of paramount importance in our society. Peace is not an abstract goal. Unfortunately Mozambican youth has not yet known the meaning of peace. After 10 years of struggling to conquez of the sacred right of a people - the right to freedom and independence - the aspiration of Mozambican youth to become (Mr. Dias Silva, Mozambique) involved in the difficult task of national reconstruction of the country devastated by colonialism has been shattered. Soon after i~dependence we were confronted with aggression by the illegal regime of Ian Smith. After the victory of the Zimbabwean people the apartheid regime took over the operational command of the strategy of destabilization of neighbouring countries. The apartheid regime has organized, financed, trained, recruited and infiltrated armed bandits who engage in acts of terrorism against the civilian population and destroy property. The sadistic assassination of chidlren and teenagers, the destruction of economic infrastructures so vital to the life of the nation are obviously the hallmarks of terrorists who are still on the payroll of the apartheid regime, whose barbarity is comparable only to that ofHitle~'s notorious SS. In the face of this situation of war, our youth participates in the defence of our sovereignty in order to achieve peace. At. the same time, filozambican youth is actively engaged in the task of production. In this context Mozambican youth is implementing the motto of the International Youth Year: ·participation, Development, Peace·, thus confirming once again the interrelationship of the three themes. If the international cOmmunity is really committed tD the full development of the potential of young people, it cannot afford to lose the momentum that has been created. The efforts made by our Government during the preparations must now be doubledJ experience gained in the process should now be expanded. The programmes and activities created for and by young people cannot end with this celebration. International Youth Year is a continuing process. In our view the guidelines drafted by the Advisory Committee provide a positive framework for future activities. It is now up to Governments, in co-operation with United Nations organs and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to take the appropriate measures to implement them. The struggle continues. Mr. MBAYE (Senegal) (interpretation from Frefich): The terrible ordeal that has afflicted Colombia has caused grief and sorrow thrC"luglllout the world, and I should like to take this opportunity to express the most hE:I~!:tf~l\t condolences of the Government and people of Senegal to the people of Colall1bia, ncrw in mourning over the natural disaster. A signal honour has fallen to me today: on b~half of ,!1l the young PeOple of Senegal represented on this occasi.on by a member of the !l~tional Committee of Senegal for International Youth Year to speak before this Assembly to bring a message of welcome, of peace and the commitment of the young people of my country to participate wholeheartedly in building a world o.E happiness and prosperity. The year 1985 has been proclaimed International Youth Year in order to enable officials and C~ver~~ents better to understand the situation of young people, their needs and their most legitimate aspirations, to promote policies and programmes for the benefit of youth as an integral part of the economic and social development process, to encourage their active participation in the promotion and achievement of the objectives of development and peace, to promote the ideals of tolerance and mutual understanding in order to foster peaceful coexistence among peoples and to encourage co-operation among the young PeOple of all countries, and at every level. These basic concerns of young people, which our universal Organization asked the States to consider, find their meaning and their impact in the theme , "Participation, Development, Peace". I am happy to be able to state here that International Youth Year has had a major impact in Senegal. It has enabled the young people of Senegal to make themselves heard, to express their needs and to engage in a dialogue with adults, with the authorities and with non-governmental, national and international organizations. All youth movements and associations in Senegal are members of the National Ser.:galese Committee for International Youth Year. Thus they have worked together in committees dealing with youth-related problems, such as education, training, employment, unemployment, crime and leisure. In Senegal International Youth Year has p~ovided young people with an opportunity to take important steps forward. It has enabled them thoroughly to analyse the situation of young people and to lay the foundations for their greater involvement in every level of the decision-making process in the nation. It is in that spitit that His Excellency Mr. Abdou Diouf, President of the Republic of Senegal, agreed to make this Year into a Decade. That Decade will provide an opportunity to implement a national plan of action for youth, which will examine the essential economic, social and cultural needs of young people in Senegal with a • iew to satisfying them. International Youth Year has been fully observed in Senegal. On behalf of His Excellency Mr. Abdou Dlouf, President of the RepUblic of Senegal and current Chairman of the Organization of African Unity, I should like to repeat the expression of" the confidence of our pan-African organization in African youth and its capacity to renew and strengthen pan-Africanism, to devote its generosity, its strength and its faith to the future of Africa, its own future. (Hr. Mbaye, Senegal} In his statement at the commemorative session of the United Nations, Mr. Abdou Diouf referred to Interna~lonal Youth Year and the special importance it bears in his eyes. Indeed, it·has provided an opportunity to free the extraordinary energies of young PeOple to enable them to participate fully in building the future of mankind &ld to demonstrate their enthusiasm and their creative spirit in the noble task of nation building. In particular, he said: -Participation, development, peace: it is a theme that c:learly indicates the manner in which activities and projects ai~ed at young people should be formulated and directed•• - (!L40/PV.42, p. 28) He went on to note that that ·judicious choice of theme was an appeal to the conscience of all nations, great and small, in order to turn their attention to youth and mobilize their effo~ts on its behalf. He went on to say: -For its part, in any event, Africa, true to the choices it has made, will continue, as in the past, to make its contribution to the establishment of a propitious climate for the strengthening of international co---operation and to support all united Nations initiatives to promote mutual understanding among young people for the achievement of the ideals of human solidarity and dedication to the goals of developm2nt, progress and peace in the world.- (A/40/PV.42, p. 28) We welcome the fact that the Advisory Committee for the International Youth Year has established guidelines for further planning and suitable follow-up in the field of youth. Those guidelines could serve as an inspiration in drawing up programmes of actions directed towards young people, for concern about them must not end with this Year but should, on the contrary, be a permanent aim. Consequently there is a need for follow-up action, in which the national co-ordinating Committees, the International Youth Year secretariat and the United (Hr. Mbaye, Senegal) Nations centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs could constitute the main elements. Mr. LOHIA (Papua New Guinea): While we are intellectualizing here the problems of the youth of the world, many of our young people are probably having a much better time outside of this room and outside of the United Nations building. However, I do congratulate all here for the commitment given to this particular debate, which concerns a fundamental basis on which our human societies are established. It is indeed fitting that the united Nations World Conference for the International Youth Year should be held in the same year that we celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, an institution established to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. Like every country, Papua New Guinea has its share of youth problems - unemployment, illiteracy, drug abuse and so on. We are therefore grateful for the convening of this Conference, which has offered my delegation a unique opportunity to.learn from other delegations what their respective Governments are doing to address their own youth problems. With the necessary adjustments, my delegation is convinc~d that some of the initiatives and remedial actions undertaken by other Governments can be adapted by us to improve the well-being of our young people in preparation for tomorrow. It is a well-known cliche that young people are the key to the future. Ironically, however, we have too often neglected to recognize that (&ct and the need to give more attention to the role of young people in our societies, to their ideas and initiatives and to their demands for the world of tomorrow. My delegation is therefore happy to note that the concept of International Youth Year has offered a useful and significant opportunity for drawing attention to the situation and the specific needs and aspirations of youth. It has increased co-operation at all levels in dealing with youth issues, and Governments have undertaken concerted-action programmes in favour of youth and for improving the participation of youth people in the stUdy, decision-making processes and resolution of major problems confronting our societies today. In 1983 a separate Office of Youth, Women, Religion and Recreation within the Department of the Prime Minister was set up in f; \pua New Guinea. Its aim is to strengthen programme development and to concentrate on certain country-wide problems, such as the creation of income-earning and employment opportunities for youth. In the same year, the Papua New Guinea Government adopted its national youth policy, and since then-it has placed a strong emphasis on developing youth-oriented programmes as a means of solving the rising youth-unemployment problems. Before the new era, our society never experienced unemployment. OUr traditional societies have always made provision for everyone, including the aged, to have useful employment. For that policy to continue, there is a need to train young people to be more productively involved in the actual progress and· development of their partiCUlar communities and to encourage them to participate fully in the economic, social, political, cultural and religious life of the nation. The Papua New Guinea Government, in recognizing the needs of youth, has' , allocated 1.06 million kina per annum for 1985-1988 to fund the on-going project, the National Youth Movement Programme, which caters for both rural and urban youth activities. As a major component of its youth strategy, the Papua New Guinea Government established the National Youth Development Fund Limited, under separate funding, to act as a fi~ancial facility for youth groups to initiate medium-term economic projects. That organization further assists in providing training advice and necessary supervision for youth groups engaged in the project-development process. (Mr. Lahia, Papua New Guinea) An allocation of an extra 3.5 .illion kina has been _de in the 1985 budget to fund other interrelated coaponents of the youth Programme, including the National Youth B8ployment Strategy aimed at finding ways to barness further youth skills and energy, and to create eaploYMent.opportunities for tbe majodty of uneaployed young people in. the country. Discussian of initiatives undertaken to address youth problems in Papua New Guinea will not be complete if the role of churches and various non-governmental organizations are not acknowledged. (Mr. Lohia, Papua New Guinea) My delegation is proud to say that the work of churches and various non-governmental organizations in addressing the needs of youth is a credit to theaselves and to what they stand for. In 1981 the major churches represented in Papua New Guinea drafted and adopted the Christian Declaration on Youth Development. The objective of the Declaration is to develop the nation ·side by side· with Government youth progra1lllles. Under the aegis of this Declaration, management workshops, seainars, short-term technical training and agr icultural training for youth have been conducted. This year the Government of Papua New Guinea has allocated 71,000 Kinas to assist youth programmes co-ordinated by churches. In addition to th~ facilities earlier outlined, the Papua New Guinea Government is making available to church youth groups the resources of the national Government' s Minor Projects Development Fund. Just recently a sum of 6,000 Kinas was granted from the Fund to one church youth group. Our concern for youth has not been confined to our shores. Cognizant of the need to share experiences in this field, Papua New Guinea actively participates in the activities of the Ccmmonwealth Youth Programme. In August of this year I had the pr ivilege to witness my Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Micbael SOmare, on behalf of the Government and people of Papua New Guinea, donating 10,000 Kinas to the Cook Island Youth Programme in the Pacific. It needs little emphasis that timely and significant impetus generated by the activities of International Youth Year should be maintained and reinforced. It is the hope of my delegation that the passing of 1985, International Youth Year, will usher in an era of genuine and concerted action by all to ameliorate the problems of our young people throughout the world. Finally, it is the tradition in our societies in Papua New Guinea to share our sorrows, our happiness and our burdens. Today we are sorry that we witnessed another unhappy time, particularly for the young people of ColOllbia. we pass our condolences through the mssion of ColOllbia in New York to the Goverrment and people of Colombia. Mr. MONTHALI (Malawi): I should like first of all, Hr. President, to thank you for giving me till!! to address this asselllbly. Before I go any further I wish to say how shocked and sorry we are to bear the sad news of the natural disaster that has taken place in Colollbia in which thousands of people are believed buried by the lava of a v:olcano that has erupted there. My delegation wishes to express its deep concern to, and sYJIpathy with, the Government and people of Colombia in this tillile of their llisfortune. Coming back to the topic before us I have the following to say. The history of youth organization in Malawi is inseparably linked to Malawi's struggle for independence. Through his wisdom and foresight, our Life president, His Excellency Ngwazi Dr. H. !taJmzu sanda, recognized the decisive role that organiZed youth could play in the noble cause of our freedola. The League of Malawi Youth was thus organized in 1958 as an integral youth wing of the ruling Malawi Congress Party. The contribution of youth towards the attainaent of independence has been chronicled and is part of the history of Malawi's struggle for freedoa. After independence it becaae clear that the enthusiasm infJtilled in the youth during the political struggle should be aaintained and rededicated. Again it was the foresight of His Excellency the Life President, who i.-ediately after political independence created the Malawi Young Pioneers Jit)ve_nt as a spearhead for progress. By an Act of Parliament this aovement caJDe into being in 1965. TIIO years after independence, the Malawi Governaent designat,~d one week dur ing March and April as Youth Week for youth to he actively involved 1-n projects of iaportance in their own areas, such as construction and repair of roads, bridges, schools and clinics. (Hr. Lohia, Papua New Guinea) The major reason for establishing the Malawi Young Pioneers was and still is to spearhead progress. This called for proper training of youth in various skills and trades to prepare them for this task. I would remind this assembly that in the past education and training prograJlRes in Malawi were irrelevant to the needs of the country. Young men and women were taught to despise manual labour in preference for clerical work. They valued living in urban areas and not in rural areas. In preparing youth for this goal, the Government of the Republic of Malawi has established training bases in all 24 of the administrative districts to which youth who leave school go to undergo training in modern agriculture, carpentry, bricklaying, plumbing and a host of other trades. The programme of training includes also home economics, literacy classes and civics to enable all youth to understand the working of their government. After training, these youths go back to their homes as farmers and artisans and set up their concerns, which in turn act as models for the ordinary persons in the village~ Naturally the villagers emulate these models. In this way the youth act as catalysts for development in the rural areas. Malawi being an agricultural country, emphasis is put on modern methods of farming. Owing to youth participation in development activities in the field of farming, this has tremendously increased food production to the point that, small as it is, Malawi now produces enough food to feed itself and has surpluses for export, inter alia, maize, beans, groundnuts and rice. Such income-generating activities at the village level have helped curb or slow down one of the major problems of the developing countries, that of rural-urban migration. As a result, violent crimes, juvenile delinquency and other social evils are minimal in Malawi. (Mr. Munthali, Malawi) My Government is strongly committed to the goals and ideals of International Youth Year - participation, development, peace. Therefore!' the Malawi Government feels strongly that in order to achieve those goals young people must be taught and guided rather than left toO do just what they want. His Excellency the Life President Ngwazi Dr. H. Kamuzu Banda, on the occasion of opening the 1985 Youth Week, on 31 March, said: -In Malawi there is no questio~ of leaving or letting the children do as they like. No, no, no~ Hete children are guided, taught from an early age upwards and there are certain things that they are taught - apart from anything else, respect for their elders... But not only that; they must work.- Each year during Youth Week boys and girls, joined by their parents, undertake various projects of communal interest, all in the spirit of nation-building. Youth in Malawi have already undertaken hundreds of projects on a local and national scale. They are concerned about the world in which they live, peace and their future. It is right that the international community should show concern for the future of youth. We must demonstrate that concern by deeds, not just by words. Unfortunately, not every country is endowed with resources to meet the challenges to which the problems of youth give rise. It is in this spirit that we appeal to the more fortunate countries to render assistance to the less fortunate ones, in the spirit of International Youth Year, so that the innovation and the work of youth may be carried on beyond 1985. Mr. PROENCA (Guinea Bissau) (spoke in portugueseJ interpretation from French text furnished by the delegation): On behalf of the delegation of Guinea Bissau, and in particular on behalf of the young people of my country, I offer our condolences and deep compassion to the delegation of Colombia. (Mr. Munthali, Malawi) IOrty yeara ago aanklnd proc1ai.ed the establishment of an international Organization, the United Nations, the primary objective of which is to guarantee international peace and security, thereby helping to fulfil the collective aspirations of the lieD and WClIIen of our planet and, in particular, of the young. Young people are seeking a prosperous future and struggling for the ideals of independence, peace and progress. The establish.ent of the United Nations left a significant staap on the world historical process of the past 40 years. The youth of the world, trauaatized by the DlOBt atrocious and destructive war the world had ever experienced, wae wn over by fresh hope. Froa the ashes of. nazism, world youth called for the establ1shment of a rationality that could induce States and nations to vanquish the logic of war and violence and create a momentum of constructive dialogue and reciprocal coaptena1an that would prOllOte the development, peace and harmonious progress of unkind. It was in this perspective that, in acoo~dance with the purposes and principl~= that guide the community of nations, young people committed themselves with all their enthusiaSlll and dYMlIi811 to the struggle to eliminate colonial1sll, racisll and !2!rtheid and for self-deteraination and the independence of peoples, the building of more just, mora ~itable societies, the establishment of a new international economic order, for peace, security and development. That is why our delegation feels that this United Nations world OOnfefune& fOf the Internatior~l Youth Year, which is being held a few days after the commemoration of the fortieth anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations, over and above the special opportunity it offers for reflection in connection vith the specific problems of young people, who in general are .cre sensitive to innovations and the struggle for progress and well-being, is also a (Mr. Preenea, Guinea 8i••au) propitious occasion for these young people to express themselves in connection with the future of our planet. We are convinced that there is no more appropriate forum for the promotion of a fruitful discussion on the main problems of youth and the fundamental questions which concern the peoples and nations of the world, in particular the problems of the self-determination and independence of peoples, stability, international security, economic development and the establishment of a new universal order which will respond to the desire for peace, progress and COllective well-being. Thus we welcome, on behalf of the young people of Guinea Bissau, the convening of this Conference the historic and political dimensions of which transcend the simple context of a world conference for youth. It is part of the determined action of the United Nations in ~~vour of peace and development, in co-operation with a world social force of the future - youth. In the context of the implementation of General Assembly resolution 34/151, of 17 December 1979, which proclaimed 1965 International Youth Year, our country has set up a national Co-ordinating committee composed of the various social and occupational categories of Guinean youth. In pursuing the objectives of International Youth Year - participation, development and peace - our National Co-ordinating Committee has taken major measures to promote the participation of Guinean youth, both in the search for solutions to major national problems and in decision-making bodies. In this context we have prepared major development projects, which include the creation of jobs for young people, their integration in an appropriate social and cultural setting, the improvement of the living conditio~~ of the most under-privileged segments of society, and education, , professional and technical training in the interest of development. These projects are fully in keeping with the goals of our social and Jonomic development strategy and also with the goals of International youth Year. (Mr. Proenca, Guinea Bissau) The participation of our youth in the commemoration of International Youth Year is not limited to our national territory. We have been represented in all the international forums of young people. That presence was reflected in even greater strength at the XII World Festival of Young People and Students, held in Moscow, which constituted a 9ignificant demonstration of the commitment of world youth to the struggle to defend its inalienable right to progress and well-being and in favour of internatiornll peace and security. After having played a decisive role in the armed struggle for national liberation, the you~J people of our country today constitute the main factor in the process of social an,d economic development. Indeed, when we analyse the demographic structule of Guinea Bissau, particularly the working population, we see that young people ;ae a large majority. Rather les5 than 10 years after independence hundreds of young people have received tr~ining, either at home or abroad, and today they exercise a wide variety of functions in all sectors of activity, sometimes in positions of great responsibility. (Mr. Proenca, Guinea Bissau) Young people, wit.~ th.si: d:zna;rlc;iii, cviitiiiuew participate significantly in the development effort, and consequently in the building of a new society. Young people are present in the productive sectors, seats of power and decision-making circles, not merely symbolically but in shouldering their responsibilities for the construction of the future. We young people do so proudly, because we want to continue a process that has led our people to recover its dignity and resume its place in the concert of free nations. Our participation in International Youth Year has enabled us to reflect more deeply not only on the role of catalyst in the development of the young people of our country, but also on the role that youth can and must play in a world in which the dangers of war, particularly of nuclear war, threaten the destruction of all mankind if they are not averted. In Guinea-Bissau young people are concerned about the rise in oppression and racial discrimination, which is why solidarity is a collective sentiment and a national duty. We wish to take this opportunity to repeat our solidarity with the peoples who - in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America - are struggling for their national and social liberation, the creation of a more just society and the attainment of the lofty ideals of peace and progress enshrined in the Charter. In this context, we wish to draw particular attention to the serious situation prevailing in southern Africa, where the odious apartheid regime, defying international norms, is intensifying its acts of terror and repression against South African patriots and increasing its acts of aggression against the front-line states, particularly Angola and Mozambique. The young people of my country - especially the active members of the Amilcar Cabral youth organization - wish to reiterate their unswerving solidarity with the struggle of the young people of the African National Congress (ANe) and the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) to assure respect for the right of their people to freedom and dignity. (Mr. Proenca, Guinea-Bissau) ~ ~~ Secreta~y-Gene!~l ~s indicated, International Youth Year should stress the need to maintain peace and promote development. We believe that those two objectives are today the primary concern of youth, which intends to ensure the survival of mankind and build a more dignified and more prosperous future for all the men and women on our planet. We are convinced that once it is united in pursuit of those goals the youth of the world will be able to make a decisive contribution to defending peace and creating conditions conducive to development, notably by eliminating poverty, disease, famine, social imbalances and injustices in the distribution of the world's wealth. Faced with the threat of destruction hanging over mankind, the young people of every country want a different world, because it is the right of all the young people on earth to live without fear of tomorrow. That is a universal demand that no ideo~ogical, philosophical or moral reason can contradict. That is why, the young people, call for a different, better world, not rhetorically, but seeking practical, concrete action to unite us all, without any form of discrimination - r~cial, religious, economic or geographical. That may be utopian, but we certainly want a world as near to Utopia as possible.
We have just heard·the last
speaker in the United Nation World Conference on the International Youth Year.
I call. on the representative of the United Kingdom, who wishes to speak on
exer~ise of the right of reply.
May I remind members that, in accordance with General Assembly decision
34/401, state~=nts in exercise of the right of reply are limited to 10 minutes for
the first intervention and to five minutes for the second, and should be made by
representatives from their seats.
{Mr. Proenca, Guinea-Bissau)
Ms. YOUNG (United Kingdom) I At this late hour I very .ucb regret having
should be aialed ~ the nonse~eical claim made by the representative of th~
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic earlier today that de-acracy and human rights
in Northern Ireland had, in his words, been cruelly suppressed.
All people in the United Kingdom, whether in Northern Ireland or elsewhere,
enjoy the BaIIe rights and freedoms under the law. They include a free electoral
process in which representatives of all political parties are free to take part.
There has indeed been suppression of hWlan rights" but that has been perpetrated
not by ~ GovernMent but by those who seek to promote their political objectives by
violence or the threat of violence.
My Government is committed to diminishing the divisions in Northern Ireland
and achieving lasting peace and stability there.
As uny representatives will be aware, an agreeaent was signed today between
ay Govern8nt and the Government of the Republic of Ireland which has th~ aims of
pra.oting peace and stability in Ireland, helping to reconcile the two ajor
traditions in Ireland, promoting a climate of friendship and cO-Operation between
the peoples of the two countries and ~proving co-operation and combating
terrori... The intergovernmental conference established under ~~t agree~nt will
concern itself" inter alia, with measures to recognize and aceoamodate the rights
and identities of the two traditions in Northern Ireland, protect human rights and
prevent discriaination. In the agre~ent the CClIIUIlitaent to a society in Northern
Ireland in which all may live in peace, free froa discriaination and intolerance,
and with the opportunity for both communities to participate fully in the
structures and processes of government, is reaffirmed.
My Goveruent hopes that this &greement will be welcoraed by all true friends
of huaan rights, even if not by the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.
The meeting rose at 10 p.a.