Speech by the Syrian Delegation

Speech by the Syrian Delegation Speech By The Syrian Delegation 09/08/1998

Dear Friends,

Members of the First International

Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth

It is my pleasure to address to you all the best of greetings and to expressour great happiness at taking part in the deliberations of this august conference of ministers responsible for youth. My greetings and thanks are due to Portugal,officials and youth, for the warm and generous hospitality accorded to thedelegation of Syria's youth during their stay and participation in this magnificent festival which was very well prepared, and which has achieved goals. We highly appreciate the United Nations initiative of addressing invitations to this beautiful gathering where all world youth have the chance to meet. Their feelings and ideas are drawn closer together, which raises great hopes for a prosperous future of our planet.

We convey to you all a greeting of love from the President of our Syrian Arab Republic, President Hafez al-Assad coupled with his best wishes of success in taking the decisions and recommendations pertinent to the development of youth conditions, improving the circumstances of their lives, enabling them to contribute to the process of peace, security, progress and prosperity.

Syria's youth have made important and substantial successes over the past 28 years under the care and support accorded to them by President Al- Assad , the leadership of the Baath Arab Socialist Party and the Syrian government. They have won their rights to education, work, health, development, opinion and decision - making, in the context of a modem national democratic renaissance that covered all walks of life. Those successes, however, charge the youth of Syria with the task of contributing to the efforts exerted for eliminating the impanity existing in the world of today. With much pain we see millions of young people facing bitter conditions and exposed to diverse troubles. We believe that ourjoint efforts can effect a significant truen in those condition. The combined potentials of world nations, added to those of the World Health Organization, the UNICEF, the UNESCO, the Social and Economic Council, the UN Population Fund and other international organizations will certainly help improve the living conditions of young people. We believe that eliminating hotbeds of tension, preventing the occupation of other people's lands, putting an end to regional wars and tensions, putting limits to the manufacturing of weapons, increasing and improving investment opportunities, promoting just national policies, putting an end to exploitation and the plunder of the resources of poor countries, and recognizing democracy in international relations instead of hegemony and the policy of force, combating the hazardous trade narcotics and internationally banned drugs, improving the chances of education, work, health and development, the exchange of experience and expertise among the nations, will certainly and automatically lead to the improvement of the living conditions of youth and will open prospects of a happy future. Millions of young people who were exposed to danger, to deadly diseases, to epidemics, to ignorance, and backwardness, alongside the youth who struggle against occupation and die in their legitimate struggle, they all fall under our joint responsibility and we have to take the stands that guarantee for them the proper circumstances and climates for development, progress and welfare. A good number of young people from Syria, Lebanon and Palestine at present lead their painful life under the yoke of Israeli occupation, suffering from barbaric persecution. This situation runs radically counter to the principles of human rights, the 50'h anniversary of which we celebrated a few days ago. It runs counter to the resolutions of international legitimacy and he UN Charter, to the terms of reference of the peace process. represented by the principles of the Madrid Conference As we meet here today under the aegis of the UN, we share with the view that commitment to international legitimacy is the basis for just and permanent peace and the natural solution to the problems suffered by our youth who live under Israeli occupation. We demand that pressure should be exercised in order to force Israel to commit itself to implementation of the relevant UN resolutions, and to the principle of land for peace so that just and comprehensive peace could be established in our region and the world, paving the way for the development of our youth and the youth of the world under circumstances convenient to progress,prosperity and welfare.

We support, and hope for the support of all of you to the resistance put up by our-youth against Israeli occupation which is a legitimate right of theirs, and support at the same time all world youth resistance to similar burdens. We denounce and condemn all forms of terrorism that involve youth in acts of violence.Together we shall support human principles and international measures and initiatives taken for ensuring a happy life for all conditions and exposed to diverse troubles. We believe that ourjoint efforts can effect a significant truen in those condition. The combined potentials of world nations, added to those of the World Health Organization, the UNICEF, the UNESCO, the Social and Economic Council, the UN Population Fund and other international organizations will certainly help improve the living conditions of young people. We believe that eliminating hotbeds of tension, preventing the occupation of other people's lands, putting an end to regional wars and tensions, putting limits to the manufacturing of weapons, increasing and improving investment opportunities, promoting just national policies, putting an end to exploitation and the plunder of the resources of poor countries, and recognizing democracy in international relations instead of hegemony and the policy of force, combating the hazardous trade narcotics and internationally banned drugs, improving the chances of education, work, health and development, the exchange of experience and expertise among the nations, will certainly and automatically lead to the improvement of the living conditions of youth and will open prospects of a happy future. Millions of young people who were exposed to danger, to deadly diseases, to epidemics, to ignorance, and backwardness, alongside the youth who struggle against occupation and die in their legitimate struggle, they all fall under our joint responsibility and we have to take the stands that guarantee for them the proper circumstances and climates for development, progress and welfare. A good number of young people from Syria, Lebanon and Palestine at present lead their painful life under the yoke of Israeli occupation, suffering from barbaric persecution. This situation runs radically counter to the principles of human rights, the 50'h anniversary of which we celebrated a few days ago. It runs counter to the resolutions of international legitimacy and he UN Charter, to the terms of reference of the peace process. represented by the principles of the Madrid Conference As we meet here today under the aegis of the UN, we share with the view that commitment to international legitimacy is the basis for just and permanent peace and the natural solution to the problems suffered by our youth who live under Israeli occupation. We demand that pressure should be exercised in order to force Israel to commit itself to implementation of the relevant UN resolutions, and to the principle of land for peace so that just and comprehensive peace could be established in our region and the world, paving the way for the development of our youth and the youth of the world under circumstances convenient to progress, prosperity and welfare.

We wish all the best for our conference.

Thank you!

Shaker As`eed Head

Syrian Delegation