 Declaration of International Youth DayPALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): August 15, 2003 - President Joseph J. Urusemal has declared August 12, 2003 as the International Youth Day. The declaration in its entirety is as follows: "WHEREAS, the General Assembly on 17 December 1999 in its resolution 54/120, endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth at Libson on August 8-12, 1998 that 12 August be declared "International Youth Day"; WHEREAS, the Assembly recommended that the public information activities be organized to support the International Youth Day as a way to promote better awareness of the World Program of Action of Youth to the year 2000 and beyond; WHEREAS, youths are one of the nine major groups that participated in the multi-stakeholder dialogue in the preparatory committees leading up to the Johannesburg Summit and involvement of youth in environment and development decision-making as well as in the implementation of programs is critical to the long-term success of Agenda 21, a landmark achievement in integrating environment, economic and social concerns into a single policy framework; WHEREAS, International Youth Day offers a special opportunity to refocus attention on the needs and aspirations of youth, to increase operation at all levels in dealing with matter relating to youth and to take concrete actions in favor of youth; NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the power vested in me, as specified under Chapter 7 of Title 1 of the Code of the Federated States of Micronesia, as amended, I hereby officially declare August 12, 2003 as the date for "International Youth Day" in the Federated States of Micronesia, and encourages all citizens to undertake any activities that accord due recognition of the importance of youths in the development of our island communities and our nation on this date". So Declared This 11th Day Of August, 2003. (signed) Joseph J. Urusemal |