Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� March, 2004

The United Nations Youth Ambassadors Pay Courtesy Call on the Prime Minister Friday, March 19, 2004 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi received a courtesy call from the United Nations Youth Ambassadors at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. These Youth Ambassadors were selected from young volunteers nationwide who participated in the "No! Absolutely No!" Fundraising Campaign for the United Nations that was held for the purpose of supporting activities to prevent drug abuse in developing countries. Abuse of drugs such as narcotics and stimulants have spread globally and there are great concerns especially with the increase of drug abuse among the youths who will take on the next generation. This time, six upper secondary school students were designated as the Young Civic Ambassadors to be dispatched to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna to deliver the contribution. On behalf of the Youth Ambassadors, Yumi Kobayakawa, a second-year student at Josuikan Senior High School in Hiroshima Prefecture expressed her ambition by saying, "Taking this opportunity, I would like to learn about the activities of the United Nations for drug abuse prevention by making close observations, so that I can use that knowledge for my future activity in Japan." Prime Minister Koizumi, who is also the head of the Headquarters for the Promotion of Measures to Prevent Drug Abuse, gave his words of encouragement by saying, "Narcotic and stimulant drugs take away people's motivation and spirit, and are a universal issue. It is important for its seriousness to be conveyed from young people to one another. Please try your best."