Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - Youth Affairs Minister Andi Mallarangeng is expected to attend a function where Maluku youths are to issue a Pela-Gandong Declaration in Ambon on November 28, 2011, a spokesman for the event`s organizers said.

"I met the minster before the soccer game between Indonesia and Malaysia in Jakarta on Monday, and he said he would attend the event in Ambon," Abdul Hamid, a member of the event`s organizing committee said when contacted in Jakarta by phone on Tuesday.

He said the minister appreciated the initiative of the Maluku Students Executive Board (BEM) to organize the Pela-Gandong Youth declaration event in the World Peace Gong monument area in Ambon city.

Pela is a local term meaning friendship between two villages, and Gandong brotherhood between two or more villages of common ancsestry.

Pela-Ganodng Youth declaration organizing committee chairman Hamid said here on Monday the event would take place in the World Peace Gong monument area in the city.

"We are part of the Maluku youth community who want to contribute to the state, especially Maluku province, to ensure security and stability for the acceleration of development in the province and in the country," Hamid said.

According to him, BEM would precede the Pela-Gandong Youth declaration with a series of training by involving a number of experts to provide insight to other students so that they could participate in maintaining a peaceful and harmonious life in the province.

"We have been coordinating with the regional executive board of Maluku`s Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI) to make the event a success because it is in line with Maluku Youth`s mission of peace," Hamid said.

(SYS/O001/A014)

Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011