10/08/1998
Mr ChairmanAt the beginning I have the honour to address you in my name, and on behalf of the delegation of the Great Jamahiriya, and avail myself of this opportunity to congratulate you for being selected to assume chairmanship of this meeting. We hope and aspire that we shall be able to achieve our targeted goals and objectives under your able guidance, wisdom and enlighted vision. I also add my voice to those who addressed the conference before and express my gratitude and heartfelt thanks for warm reception and generous hospitality extended by the Government and the People of the Republic of Portugal as well as for every effort undertaken in preparation for this conference in coordination with UN.
Mr Chairman,
The organizing of such a meeting for the first time is something unique and deserves praise and appreciation, because it focuses the light on the youth sector, which is the most significant sector of any society. As we march towards the twenty first century every state endeavours to ensure that this sector is provided the right atmosphere to grow as a health body for playing a more active role dreaming with hopes and aspirations for a bright future. Youth is the backbone of the society, which shall mastermind and guide the future transformations in every walk of life. Good economic and social development of youth requires nourishing and care right from the childhood in order to be in tune with modernization and cultural advantage of our age. Scientific knowledge, awareness human capabilities and labour can be utilized to harness resources for the benefit of the society and cultural development. The role of the youth shall be significant and necessary for achieving this goal.
The Great Al-Fatch Revolution has been attaching great significance to care of the youth with a view to developing integrated character of the youth.
The Great Al-Fatch Revolution provided opportunities at different stages of youth growth to activate their energy and enthusiasm, fulfilled their basic needs and protected them from deviation in order to utilize the energy of the youth in all economic and social aspects. In accordance with this objective the General People's Committee for Youth and Jamahiriyan Sports was found, as an embodiment to the role that the Great Al-Fatch Revolution attaches on youth.
For emphasizing the role of youth in enriching the society, a lot of facilities in the form of inputs and finances were directed to the Secretariat of Youth and Jamahiriyan Sport for practice and improvement of sports and games. The Scouts and Guides Organization has been also supported and assisted. Separated provisions have been made available to different age groups. Youth houses and festivals have been given due care Participation in youth festivals in and outside the Jamahiriya has encouraged and supported.
The general policies followed by the Great Jamahiriya with respect to youth issues. and the programmes and projects which were implemented came in tune with the international youth programmes adopted by the General Assembly up to the year 2000 and considered as guideline and directive to the governments all over the world. Also, all the measures and practical steps carried out by the Great Jamahiriya in the field of education, manpower, environment, improvement of the standard of living, heath, drugs control and full participation of youth in decision making in relevance to social life are in accordance with the broad hopes and aspirations of those who dratted and adopted that significant international programme. However, we in the Great Jamahiriya fully believe that the individual efforts made by every state are significant, but remain limited in absence of regional and international cooperation in the field of development of youth. Also, we believe that the success of the efforts made by our national governments cannot be sound without accomplishing a democratic political system based on peoples rules and not mere peoples' right of expression. Therefore. we in the Great Jamahiriya provided participation of all the peoples in the form of Basic People's Congress. Accordingly, the youth has numerous opportunities for participation in the collective responsibility of the society and inerecting therewith.
Mr. Chairman,
Inspite of this big effort, there remains something which worth mentioning, that is the difficulties we are facing to the sanctions imposed on the Libyan People and the arbitrary measures that hinder our right in acquiring and utilizing the modern sophisticated technology. The unfair and unjustified sanctions imposed due to the false propaganda of western colonial powers, taking shelter under Lockerbie case call for a joint effort by the International Community to put a stop on such measures, particularly on the light of the last decision passed by the International Court of Justice and confirmed that the resolutions adopted by the Security Council against the Great Jamahiriya were groundless.
I avail myself of this opportunity to appreciate the resolution adopted with consensus by the Heads of African States and governments in their 34th conference held in the capital of Burkina Fasso..
Mr. Chairman,
At the end, I wish to express appreciation for the efforts of the United Nations Organization, and we look forward with all appreciation for the efforts that have been undertaken for solving problems of youth.
To overcome the problems and the grave economic and social situation in which our youth is entangled, it is necessary to initiate a determined planned effort, taking into consideration the diverse dimension of all problems with every firmness and solidarity.