10/08/1998

First, Please allow me, on behalf of the Seychellois Delegation, to express our congratulations to Mr Antonio Jose' Martins Seguro, Secretary of State for Youth, of Portugal, on being elected the Chairperson of the conference and our thanks to the host country, the Portuguese govemmen for its efforts to prepare for the conference. We hope it will establish new bases for international cooperation.

I would also like to express my government 's appreciation to the United Nations for the role played by the United Nations Economic and Social Council in initiating youth policy-making and its impact on the processes of development.

My country, fifty percent of its population being under thirty years of age, is in fiffl recognition of the importance of youth, seen as a considerable force in shaping its future.

Unlike youths in many developing countries, Seychellois youths are wellprovided for in terms of education, health services, social services, employment opportunities, sports and cultural activities. The majority of our youths enjoy a fairly good standard of living. Although there are, undoubtedly, improvements that can be made. The pre-occupations of Seychellois youths are not quite related to resource allocation, infrastructural provision or a supportive legal and administrative framework in the country. The pre-occupations and challenges relate more to consultation and par cipation in decision-making at all levels in society, anti-social behaviour ( including juvenile delinquency, and substance abuse ), the erosion of family structure and values, social and community consiousness, and also, very importantly, the need to reinforce human and spiritual values.

We are a small country with a population not exceeding 75.000 inhabitants and we are a young republic. Our contribution to the human civilization and human progress can not be assessed in terms of well known historical facts.

Our interest in the topic of this conference, our responsiveness to its objectives and our readiness to attend in order to contribute our opinions, visions and proposals is therefore a clear testimony of our staunch belief in the absolute necessity of both democratic solidarity and objective and constructive dialogue on matters of vital importance.

Dealing with the challenges of youth in a changing world is such a matter at a time when there is a need for a new global ethics, a commitment to pluralism, creativity and empowerment.

Perhaps I may mention at this point that my ministry, acting as a national co-ordinating agency, stimulating and regulating youth affairs in Seychelles, has launched an action plan for the next five years, based on the slogan HEAR the Youths ":

Indeed,- I may assert that this attitude constitutes the depth and the focal point of the strategy my country uses to formulate its general policies of education, information,, culture and development.

It is constantly invigorated with the unique dynamic of Creolité, this special blending of european, affican and asian influences, which is central to our identity.

Creolite' is a unified social and cultural consciousness that embraces the cultural diversities of the Seychellois nation, through history, peopling and related aspirations. As such it appears as " une voie me'diane " establishing a common set of human,, social and cultural values.

The comprehensive development of youth in our inter-connected world is more and more a cultural issue and we have to draw upon the values enshrined in our respective cultural heritages to implement sustainable youth programmes. In addition, let us not hesitate no refer to the " Culture of Peace so pertinently developed and promoted by UNESCO.

The Republic of Seychelles is looking forward with great hopes to the fruits that this conference will bear at the threshold of the twenty-first century. May the " Power of Youth " rise above the powers of wealth and politics ! May the ideals of this conference be fulfilled !

Thank you