Global Arab Network | Symposium on Youth and the Future in Tunisia - Foundations for Dialogue and Communication

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Symposium on Youth and the Future in Tunisia - Foundations for Dialogue and Communication

Global Arab Network - - George Haddad

Friday, 15 January 2010 15:00

Tunisia (Tunis) - The International Symposium on Youth and the Future resumed its proceedings this morning in Tunis and held the second session devoted to the theme of “dialogue and communication among and with youth: bases, means and goals”.

The session was chaired by Mr Federico Mayor Zaragoza, former Director General of UNESCO and President of the Culture of Peace Foundation.

Speakers during this session include Mr Salah Eddine Maaoui, Director General of the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU); Mr Yahya Pallavicini, President of the Supreme Council for Education, Science and Culture for Muslims outside the Islamic World; Dr Muna Saeed Al-Hadidi, Dean of the International Academy for Media Science; Mrs Delia Rarela-Barcelona, representative of the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Headquarters in New York; Mr Khaled Al Wahishi, Director of Youth and Sports, League of Arab States; and Dr Mongi Zaidi, a university professor and Director and Chief Editor of Tunisian Al-Hurriya Daily.

The third session devoted to the theme of “involvement of youth in public affairs: reality and aspirations” will be held later in this morning and will be chaired by Dr Abderraouf Basti, Tunisian Minister of Culture and Heritage Preservation.

The “Youth and the Future” symposium is held under the high patronage of Tunisian President Mr Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, in cooperation between ISESCO, the Tunisian government, the Arab Maghreb Union General Secretariat, and ALECSO. This event, part of the World Youth Year, is a preparatory step for the International Youth Conference, which will take place in Tunisia later this year under the aegis of the United Nations.

Yesterday, The first scientific session of the International Symposium on Youth and the Future convened in Tunis, under the chairmanship of Dr Nancy Baker, Commissioner General for Arab civil society in the Arab League.

Taking the floor at this session themed “Youth in the World: Current Problems and Challenges”, were Mr Yahya Pallavicini, President of the Supreme Council for Education, Science and Culture for Muslims outside the Islamic World; Dr Ekmeleddin Özdemir, Professor at Fatih University in Turkey; Dr Khalid Hajji, Professor at the University of Frankfurt in Germany; Mr Salaheddine Ben Faraj, University Professor, Member of the Tunisian Parliament; Dr Hamahou Allah Ould Salem, Professor of History at the University of Nouakchott; Mr Mohamed Jalahma, Deputy Secretary General of Awqaf in Kuwait; and Ms Elizabeth Longworth, Representative of UNESCO Director General.

Tunisian President Mr Zine El Abidine Ben Ali stated that the International Year of Youth constitutes a precious opportunity to increase care for youth, to deepen their knowledge of the civilizational and historic responsibilities entrusted to them, and to raise their awareness of the great hopes placed in them. He went on saying that youth are called on to come up with audacious visions and innovative solutions to overcome the crises and tensions that plague our times as this will provide a new international climate that encourages the building of fair and strong relations among all countries.

In an address he delivered at the formal opening ceremony of the symposium, the Tunisian president said that youth in every nation are the social category that is more exposed to the impacts of local errors and international imbalances, which cause them to feel disappointed and frustrated, and have adverse effects on their growth and aspirations. He also pointed out that one of the most serious errors committed against youth is to overlook their concerns and aspirations, to thrust them in ideological, racial or factional conflicts, to fill them with feelings of hatred, grudge and racism, to show unconcern vis-à-vis the country's sovereignty to the extent of bequeathing to the emerging generations a sense of dependence and weakness, and to take grave and thoughtless decisions that might block youth's prospects and destroy their future.

In the same vein, the Tunisian president said that one of the most flagrant world disparities that most affect young people is the adoption of double standards in addressing international issues, the increasing excessive inequalities between developed and developing countries, the propagating trends of extremism, violence and terrorism, the intensifying scourges of poverty, hunger and disease, and the expanding crises, conflicts and tensions.

In addition, he called for imbuing the youth with the culture of diligence and self-reliance, and with the sense of transcendence in overcoming the difficulties and obstacles they face in their life.

Furthermore, he laid emphasis on the fact that attention should be focused on the vital sectors that target youth directly, such as health, education, training, culture, communication technologies, employment, social care, leisure and sports activities, volunteerism, and civil society action. In this regard, he stressed that wisdom dictates that in all these sectors, we should offer youth all the conditions that ensure a sound educational, intellectual and physical upbringing, and prepare them to be an inspiring force of action in their societies, to assume their share of responsibility in terms of decision-making in their countries and to positively influence their time.

President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali went on saying, "Our duty vis-à-vis our youth also consists in acting, with firm determination, for alleviating the tensions and disparities prevailing in our world, while sparing no effort to offer the emerging generations the propitious conditions for security and prosperity."

Tunisian President Mr Zine El Abidine Ben Ali received Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) in the Presidential Palace in Carthage .

On this occasion, Dr Altwaijri presented the Tunisian President with the shield of the International Symposium on Youth and the Future.

It is worth mentioning that the “Youth and the Future” symposium is held under the high patronage of Tunisian President Mr Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and in cooperation between ISESCO, the Tunisian government, the General Secretariat of the Arab Maghreb Union, and ALECSO. This event, part of the World Youth Year, is a preparatory step for the International Youth Conference which will take place in Tunisia during this year under the auspices of the United Nations.

Global Arab Network

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