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Vice President Alik L. Alik Addressed the 12^th FSM National Close-Up Participants

Palikir, POHNPEI (FSM Information Service): May 27, 2008 - Vice President, Honorable Alik L. Alik presented his Keynote Remarks to the participating students and their chaperones at the 12^th Annual FSM National Close-Up opening ceremony on May 26, 2008 at the PMA auditorium in Kolonia.

Vice President Alik, on behalf of President Mori and staff of the entire National Government welcomed the participants and saluted the young participants and encouraged them to keep up the positive attitude toward high quality achievements and excellence in their future educational endeavors, acknowledging their selection is based on quality criteria for the selection process by each state.

The National Close-Up program, Vice President Alik mentioned, had been in existence for eleven (11) years and the main goal of the National Close-Up program is to enable participating students and teachers to broaden their awareness of the importance of nationalism with respect to unity and identity as FSM citizens in particular.

Vice President Alik reassured the students that they are the future leaders of this nation and urged them to be serious with their schooling.

Emphasis was given to the international patterns and trends for the student's attention as well as reduction of dependency and consumption of imported food substitute, but rather to increase production and utilization of our own local crops.

Moreover, Vice President Alik reaffirmed the National Government's commitment to support the National Close-Up Local Program.

"The national Government", he said, " [...] will continue to support the National Close-Up Local Program in order to strengthen the sense of unity and identity in the minds of the youths like you now as well as in the future."

The One-week program for the 12^th Annual National Close-Up includes tour of the FSM Surveillance facilities and Boats, the National Complex, observation of the FSM Congress in action, tour of COM Campus, Nan Madol and a whole lot of entertaining activities.

More than thirty (30) students participated in this year's National Close-Up Program. All the states send their representatives, except Yap.

Eighteen (18) students and two (2) chaperones from Pohnpei, nineteen (19) students and two (2) chaperones from Chuuk and eight (8) students and one chaperone represent Kosrae.