Young should spur solidarity: UN

INDONESIA: United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called on youths worldwide to promote solidarity with others, particularly with older generations, to help each other survive in this challenging world.

Annan made the statement in conjunction with International Youth Day, which falls on Thursday. This year's theme is "Youth in an Intergenerational Society."

"On this fifth International Youth Day, let us celebrate generational interdependence, and recognize that all members of society have contributions to make, and needs to fulfill. Intergenerational solidarity means they can do it together. I encourage everyone celebrating International Youth Day, including the many young people gathered in Barcelona for the Third World Youth Festival, to do their part," he said in a press release, which was made available to The Jakarta Post by the United Nations Information Center in Jakarta on Monday.

The General Assembly will address the issue of the aging world next year, as part of its ten-year review of the World Program of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, which was adopted in 1995. -- JP