09/08/1998

I would like to begin by conveying the sincere greetings of the Hellenic Government, with our thanks to the Portuguese Government and the United Nations, for hosting the "FIRST WORLD CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS".

It is a great honor for me to address this Conference. I believe that our World depends on mutual understanding and cooperation, not only among States and Governments, but also among youth.

Therefore, we should take concrete steps and measures to integrate the WORLD PROGRAM FOR YOUTH TO THE YEAR 2000 AND BEYOND and its ten priorities, mainly, the full participation of youth in the life of society and decision - making, into our national youth policies, plans and programs.

We have to admit that politics, the way we have experienced it until today, have not left enough space for the citizen. The opportunities presented to the people, in order that they can avoid individualism and enter the public sphere, are minimal.

Thus, citizens and in particular young people, abstain from politics, are indifferent and rejective towards public affairs. What was considered a few years back as an area for endeavor, has, in our days, become a quality problem for Democracy: we are experiencing a Democracy without an active citizen, while, the social net and people's relations are gradually being destroyed.

Nevertheless, a few months ago in Greece, after an initiative to promote the idea of volunteerism among youth, we were surprised to receive a strong expression of interest by young people to develop volunteer activities and participate in national, European and international voluntary networks.

We believe that, what we are experiencing, is the first rapture in the dominance of individualism.

Contemporary volunteerism can constitute a radical life experience, for solidarity, social responsibility, experimentation and individual maturity.

Today, with the experience of NGY0's like "GREENPEACE" or "DOCTORS WITHOUT FRONTIERS", we are dealing with volunteerism as a new way of political and social participation, as a new form of politics, in its noblest meaning.

We should refer here to the many faces of volunteerism. First of all, to social volunteerism as a service to vulnerable groups, for instance, caring for the elderly, individuals with special needs, for families living in conditions of socio-economic exclusion, drug addicts, and AIDS victims. We must also encourage the environmental, cultural and international volunteerism.

With what measures could we promote and encourage the multiple expressions of youth volunteerism around the world?

Cooperation between Voluntary Organizations and State Institutions of many countries represented here, has been informal and coincidental to the present. We should try to establish and promote more formal and permanent forms of cooperation.

It is also necessary that Government policy include supporting and promoting the voluntary movement. Essential elements of this policy could be the joint support and financing of existing networks and the development ofjoint voluntary initiatives. Governments should also encourage meetings and conferences, so that we may plan those legal actions that are necessary to officially recognize voluntary activities and programs at national, regional and international levels.

What we are experiencing today, seems to be the dawning of a new, complex and quite intriguing phenomenon:

First of all, youth volunteerism acquires radical characteristics, through direct intervention and participation of citizens, especially youth, in the social andpolitical evolution.

Second, volunteerism is a new form of social solidarity, more active and more productive than traditional forms.

Thirdly, youth volunteerism is the most suitable method for the development of a creative,

productive and competitive Social Welfare State.

Fourth, youth volunteerism and, in general, the social non-profit sector of the economy can create a wide scope of specialties and new employment opportunities for youth in an era of growing structural unemployment.

Contemporary volunteerism is a challenge for all, citizens and Governments.

It is a challenge for citizens of the world, because they are called upon to overcome individualism, isolation, and apathy.

It is also a challenge for Governments, who have to overcome the stereotypes in the structuring of Welfare State, and to deal with the new perspectives.

We believe that if we, Governments, cooperate, we will succeed in this challenge.

In the General Secretariat for Youth of the Hellenic Republic, we are working towards this goal, with the cooperation of young volunteers and their organizations.

I would like to express my Government's highest consideration in the results of the "FIRST WORLD YOUTH MINISTERS CONFERENCE", hoping that the proposals of the "International Youth Yea of 1985 " will be transformed into the concrete Governmental Actions for the benefit of our Youth and the safeguarding of our societies.