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IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE:

FHC 2/9
4/3/02

            Fiji Coat-of-arms           

HIGH COMMISSION FOR
THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI

19 BEALE CRESCENT
DEAKIN AC.T 2600

P.O. Box 158
DEAKIN WEST
CANBERRA A.C.T. 2600

 

"Youth for the Future Programme",
Commonwealth Secretariat,
CHOGM 2002 Task Force,
Coolum, Queensland.

Dear Sir,

            The initiative taken by the High Level Review Group leaders at their meeting in New York in September 2000 calling for the establishment of the Youth for the Future programme has the full support of the Government and the peoples of the Republic of the Fiji Islands. This initiative has been given prominence at the Coolum CHOGM. It is a given fact that the future of the Commonwealth lies in the hands of its youth. Following on to this, it is encumbent upon all of us to ensure our youth grow up in an environment that promotes understanding and indeed appreciation of the each other's cultures and traditions, features that underlie the fundamental values of societies that make up the psyche of the Commonwealth.

            Fiji had since our Independence in 1970 established comprehensive national youth programmes that are neatly complemented by the values and objectives, which underline the Commonwealth's initiatives effectively highlighting respect for diversity, economic and social development, democracy and good governance. Over a decade ago our Government established a Ministry for Youth tasked to specifically look at the needs of our youth and to put in place strategies that would ensure the proper implementation of planned development programmes. Fiji also strongly supports the initiatives in place to address poverty reduction and the 2015 Millennium Development goals by engaging and integrating our youth in social and economic development programmes across the Commonwealth.

            For this worthy cause, the Government and peoples of Fiji, in particular its youth, unreservedly give their support.

Yours faithfully,

 

High Commissioner's signature

(Isoa Gavidi)
High Commissioner of the Republic of the Fiji Islands to Australia & Singapore