The 20th century was marked by the glorious victory of peoples' struggle for national liberation. Human kind is entering the 21st century with new hopes and aspirations. However, the turn of the century by itself does not change our lives for the better. It depends on our joint stuggle.

World peace and security today are threatened by imperialist domination intervention and conflicts. People's basic rights are deprived by neo-liberal policies. Exploitation and repression are worldwide. The global struggle of all democratic, progressive and anti-imperialist forces is urgently needed.

The struggle of youth and students in the world to face these challenges was encouraged and strengthened by the success of the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students held in Havana, Cuba in 1997. In recent years this struggle, especially in denouncing capitalist globalization and imperialist aggression, is spreading in all parts of the world.

To further widen and strengthen the unity of youth and students all over the world in anti-imperialist struggle, we call for the 15th World Festival of Youth and Students to be held in Algeria in August, 2001.

The Festival will be an open forum for young people to exchange experiences, work together for alternative solutions and establish joint programs of action on issues such as peace, solidarity, disarmament, a nuclear free world, the "new world order", NATO and military alliances, conflicts and instability, occupations, blockades and embargoes, displacement of people, neo-liberal globalization, science and technology, culture and media, eradication of racism, gender equality, equality, education, employment, poverty, human and youth rights, environment, HIV/AIDS, drug abuse.

The WFYS to be held for the first time on the African continent, in the Arab region, will be an opportunity for world youth and students to express their solidarity with the Algerian people and with the struggle of all African and Arab peoples for national and economic independence, sovereignty, self-determination, peace, development and social progress.

We call upon all youth and students to join us in this struggle, and to work actively to prepare for, and participate in the 15th WFYS under the slogan: