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La celebration du 40e anniversaire du CIHEAM

Agriculture, cooperation et Mediterranee LE DISCOURS PRONONCE PAR M. ROMANO PRODI

PRESIDENT DE LA COMMISSION EUROPEENNE

Le 4(jme anniversaire de la fon­dation du Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Mediterraneennes (CIHEAM) a ete celebre le 6 juin a Bruxelles dans le Batiment Charlemagne de la Commission Europeenne par un "Colloque sur la cooperation pour le developpement de la re­gion mediterraneenne ".

La ceremonie a ete ouverte par M Salvino Busuttil, President du CIHEAM, Ambassadeur de Malte en France et au Portugal.

Le discours o/ficiel a ete tenu par M Romano Prodi, President de la Commission de I'Union Eu­ropeenne.

11 a ete suivi par les allocutions de Mme Claude Forthomme, Representant Regional pour l'Europe de la FAO, M Said Barkat, Ministre de l'Agriculture de l'Algerie, M. Guiller­mo Martinez Casan, President de la Commission de I 'En­vironnement et de l 'Agriculture de I 'Assemblee Parlemen­taire du Conseil de I 'Europe, M Miguel Arias Canete, Min­istre de l'Agriculture, de la Peche et de l'Alimentation de l'Espagne, President en exercice du Conseil des Ministres de l'Agriculture de l 'Union Europeenne.

L 'apres-midi il y a eu une table ronde sur 'La coopera­tion dans le secteur de l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l' environnement dans la region mediterraneenne ", qui a perm is de fa ire le point sur "Strategies et perspectives des differentes organisations internationales: UE, BM, Con­seil de l'Europe, FAO, FIDA, ICARDA, OADA et OCDE" et sur 'Role et place du CIHEAM: 40 ans d' ex­perience : temoignages et perspectives pour l' avenir ".

Le secreta ire general du CIHEAM, M Enzo Chioccioli, a fait l'allocution de cl6ture ''Pour une cooperation renfor­cee en Mediterranee ".

Mesdames et Messieurs, je suis tres heureux detre avec vous aujourd'hui pour al­

!ebrer le 40e anniversaire du Centre international des hau­tes etudes agronomiques mediterraneennes le c/HEAM.

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The 40th anniversary of the foundation of the International Centre of Advanced Mediter­ranean Agronomic Studies (CI­HEAM) was celebrated on June 6th in Brussels at Batiment Charlemagne of the European Commission by a "Seminar on the co-operation for the development of the Mediterranean region".

The ceremony was opened by M. Salvino Busuttil, Chairman of CIHEAM, Malta Ambassador in France and Portugal.

The official address was deliv­ered by Prof. Romano Prodi, President of the European Union Commission.

It was followed by the speeches of Mrs Claude Forthomme,

FAO Regional Representative for Europe, Mr. Said Barkat, Algerian Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Guillermo Martinez Casaii, Chairman of the Committee on the En­vironment and Agriculture of the Parliamentary Assem­bly of the Council of Europe, Mr. Miguel Arias Caiiete, Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fishing and Food, President in turn of the Council of Agricultural Minis­ters of the European Union.

In the afternoon there was a round table on "Co-oper­ation in the sectors of agriculture, food and environment in the Mediterranean region", that allowed to take stock on "Strategies and prospects of international organisations such as the E U, WB, Council of Europe, FA 0, IF AD, I­CARDA, A OAD and OECD" and on "Role and task of CIHEAM: 40 years of experience: evidence and prospects for the future".

The secretary-general of CIHEAM, Mr. Enzo Chioc­cioli, delivered the final speech "For a strengthened ea-opera­tion in the Mediterranean".

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to be with you today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the International Centre for Advan­ced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies - CIHEAM.

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Votre organisation est meritante et son importance est grande parce qu 'elle met en pratique des valeurs, des methodes et des objecti(s auxquels je suis parti­culierement attache.

Vos activites sont tres dairement empreintes des va­leurs de la solidarite et du dialogue.

Vos methodes me semblent exemplaires: comme le rapport de collaboration paritaire et le tissage de re­seaux de connaissances entre tous les partenaires.

Les objecti(s que vous visez sont importants: tant vo­tre mandat, qui consiste a partager les connaissances des sciences agricoles avec toutes les populations vi­vant autour de la Mediterranee, que le but final qui est de contribuer a faire evoluer la Mediterranee pour que d'une mer de division elle devienne une mer de co­operation. j'apprecie tout partiCl/lierement I'CEuvre accomplie par

le ClHEAM pour /'amelioration qualitative des ressour­ces humaines dans les pays mediterraneens. Le travail de vos quatre centres de Bart; La Canee, Montpellier et Saragosse et des instituts qui leur sont associtfs ap­porte de grands avantages pratiques. Toutefois, if ne faudrait pas en sous-evaluer la portee politique et cul­turelle. Les relations fecondes que vous avez nouees avec les

institutions scientifiques des pays mediterraneens par­tenaires et vos reseaux de recherche peuvent se con­cevoir comme un seul et unique grand chantier de dia­logue et de cooperation.

Le dialogue et la cooperation sont en e!!et les seuls instruments sur lesquels nous devons fonder notre ac­tion en Mediterranee. Le dialogue politique et culturel avec tous les peuples et tous les Etats de la region re­ste la seule possibilite de remplacer la logique d'op­position et d'antagonisme par la cooperation et la comprehension reciproque. L 'Union est desormais appelee a assumer toutes ses

responsabilites pour donner un nouveau projet politi­que a la Mediterranee. Peu a peu, en depit de nos difticultes institutionnel­

les, aujourd'hui encore tres evidentes dans le domaine de la politique exterieure, nous sommes en train de reussir a devenir un point de reference obligatoire pour apporter un reglement durable aux tensions et aux conflits en cours et nous devrons jouer un role de pre­mier plan a la Conference internationale de palx que nous appelons de nos VCEUX depuis longtemps.

Nous CEuvrons et nous luttons depuis un demi-siecle pour imposer en Europe les valeurs de palx et de tole­rance et de solidarite economique et sociale.

Nous avons atteint un niveau d'integration et obtenu un succes extraordinaires. A ce stade de notre histoire nous avons finalement la

force d'accomplir pleinement notre devoir sur le plan international.

Notre image evoque la democratie, la tolerance, le

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Yours is a valuable and important organisation becau­se it puts into practice certain values, methods and ob­jectives that I hold particularly dear. Your work is clearly characterised by the values of so­

lidarity and dialogue. It seems to me that the methods you use are exemplary: collaboration between equals, with all the partners involved in weaving networks of knowledge. The objectives you pursue are important: your own

mission to share state-of-the-art agricultural science with all the populations around the Mediterranean ba­sin and the overall aim of helping to transform the Me­diterranean from a sea that divides to a sea of coope­ration.

I particularly applaud CIHEAM's efforts to improve the quality of human resources in the Mediterranean coun­tries. The work done at your four centres in Bari, Ch a­nia, Montpellier and Zaragoza and the other institutions with which you have links has brought great practical benefits. However, we must not underestimate the po­litical and cultural dimensions. The fruitful relationships you have established with

scientific institutions in the Mediterranean partner co­untries and your research networks can be seen as one big workshop of dialogue and cooperation. Dialogue and cooperation are the only instruments on

which we must base our activities in the Mediterranean. Political and cultural dialogue with all the peoples and States in the region offer the only chance of replacing the ideas of confrontation and rivalry with cooperation and mutual understanding.

The time has now come for the Union to shoulder all its responsibilities and create a new political project for the Mediterranean.

Step by step, notwithstanding our institutional diffi­culties, which are still much in evidence in the field of foreign policy, we are succeeding in becoming an indi­spensable reference point for a lasting solution to the current tensions and conflicts and we must play a key role at the international peace conference we have for some time been calling for.

We have worked and striven for half a century to esta­blish the values of peace, tolerance and economic and social solidarity in Europe.

We have achieved an extraordinary level of integration and a great success. At this point in our history, we finally have the

strength to fulfil our obligations on the international stage.

Our image is one of democracy, tolerance, balanced progress and cooperation between equals. And it is this cooperation between equals, which is at

the root of your activities, that can enable us to chan-

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progres eqllilibre et la cooperation entre partenaires egallx. Cest cette cooperation entre partenaires egallx, a la

base de votre activite, qlli pellt nOlls permettre de mo­difier la perception reciproqlle et de renforcer le dialo­glle polit/qlle et cllltllrel avec les gOllvernements et avec les pellples de la rive Slid

NOlls devons pOllrsllivre et renforcer le dialoglle poli­tiqlle avec tOllS les actellrs presents dans la region pOllr relever ensemble les grands defis internationallx: 11Itte contre le terrorisme et les trafics clandestins, droits de l'homme et democratie, developpement eco­nomiqlle et social, nOllvelle gOllvernance.

NOlls devons elargir notre dialoglle cllltllrel, en con­centrant notre action dans les differents domaines de convergence qlli lient nos cllltllres et nos traditions.

NOlls devons favoriser la creation de reseallx et de liellx qlli favorisent I'emergence de projets et d'initiati­ves commllns. C'est pOllrqlloi nOlls sOlltenons resolllment tOlltes les

initiatives qlli visent a approfondir le dialoglle politi­qlle, comme par exemple la creation d'une assemblee parlementaire ellromediterraneenne decidee a Valence, en avril, a I'initiative dll Parlement ellropeen. Cest dans cet esprit, encore sllr la base des conclll­

sl'ons de Valence, qlle nOlls avons propose la creation de nOllveallx instrllments financiers, a commencer par lIn fonds ad hoc a la Banqlle ellropeenne d'investisse­ments.

En olltre, tOll/'ollrs a Valence, nOlls avons propose, avec sllcces, de creer line Fondation ellropeenne pOllr le dialoglle entre les cllltllres et les civilisations, qlli devra promollvoir line meillellre comprehension reci­proqlle dans la region par des echanges cllltllrels et in­stitlltl'onnels, et d'etendre le programme de coopera­tl'on lIniversitaire TEMPUS a la Mediterranee.

NOlls sommes donc en train de jeter les bases d'lIne nOllvelle politiqlle de voisinage avec tOllS nos parte­naires de la Mediterranee.

Une polit/qlle qlli, dans la perspective de I'elargisse­ment, vise a etendre progressivement nos politiqlles dans les regl'ons voisines de l'Unt'on elargie. je pense a cet arc de cercle qlli va de la RlIssie a la

Mediterranee, en passant par l'Ukraine et les Balkans, of) nOlls vOlllons exporter notre stabilite et notre pro­sperite, of) nOlls sommes en train d'elaborer pr ogres­sivement line veritable philosoph/e nOllvelle des rela­tl'ons internationales qlli conjllglle I'approfondissement des rapports bilaterallx et la promotion de I'integration et de la cooperatl'on entre les zones voisines.

La Mediterranee est et restera lIn element central de cette strategie, parce qlle la plllpart des problemes qlle l'Unt'on est appelee a regler dependent precisement de cette region: de la Secllrite all marche dll travail, de la liberation des echanges a la 11Itte contre !'immigration clandestine, de la protection de I'environnement all

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ge mutual perceptions and strengthen political and cul­tural dialogue with the Governments and peoples of the southern shores.

We must maintain and deepen political dialogue with all the players in the area, to meet together the major international challenges: the fight against terrorism and unlawful trafficking, human rights and democracy, eco­nomic and social development and new forms of go­vernance.

We must develop our cultural dialogue, concentrating on the various areas of convergence that link our cul­tures and traditions.

We must encourage the creation of networks and pla­ces where new joint projects and initiatives can emer­ge.

For this reason, we strongly support all initiatives ai­med at deepening political dialogue, such as the crea­tion of a Euro-Mediterranean parliamentary assembly, which was decided in Valencia in April in response to an initiative by the European Parliament.

In the same spirit, and again based on the Valencia conclusions, we have proposed the creation of new fi­nancial instruments, starting with a special European Investment Bank fund.

Furthermore, again in Valencia, we successfully propo­sed the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean Foundation to promote dialogue between cultures and civilisations, which is intended to increase mutual understanding in the region through cultural and institutional exchanges, and the extension of the Tempus university cooperation programme to the Mediterranean.

We are therefore laying the foundations for a new good-neighbour policy with all our Mediterranean part­ners. A policy which, in view of the forthcoming enlarge­

ment, is aimed at gradually extending our policies to the areas around the enlarged Union.

I am thinking here of the arc that runs from Russia to the Mediterranean, taking in Ukraine and the Balkans, to which we want to export our stability and prosperity and together with which we are gradually developing our own new philosophy of international relations, combining the deepening of bilateral relations and the promotion of integration and cooperation between the nearby areas. The Mediterranean is and will remain central to this

strategy, because most of the questions facing the Union involve the Mediterranean. From security to the labour market, from the liberalisation of trade to the fight against illegal immigration, from the protection of the environment to the development of infrastructure, especially maritime infrastructure, there are so many key questions we must face and resolve in a spirit of partnership and collaboration between equals with the

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developpement des infrastructures, surtout maritimes, autant de questions cruciales que nous devrons abor­der et resoudre dans un esprit de partenariat et de col­laboration paritaire avec les pays de la rive Sud. Dans ce contexte, I'action que conduit le c/HEAM

dans la zone mediterraneenne et notre collaboration avec lui sont cruciales. Notre collaboration avec le c/HEAM a fait de grands

progres depuis 1983. Pendant la periode de quatre ans qui s 'acheve, le c/HEAM s 'est engage a fond dans I'application du programme de cooperation dejini et ji­nance avec la Commission. Notre objecti{ commun est d'aider les pays mediterraneens a relever les dejis de la transition qui marquent aujourd'hui la vie economi­que et sociale de la region. je voudrais evoquer maintenant une phase de votre

histoire qui me semble signijicative. Le c/HEAM a ete con{u initialement comme un organisme charge de la formation technique et economique des futurs cadres de I'agriculture mediterraneenne. Au jil des annees le c/HEAM s 'est developpe sur les

plans thematique, structurel et politique en adaptant son offre de formation et d'aide a la recherche aux be­soins de I'agriculture des pays mediterraneens. Sur le plan des structures, il a renforce les instituts de

formation et de recherche en developpant des reseaux de cooperation avec les institutions des pays mediter­raneens et en decentralisant les activites dans les pays partenaires.

Sur le plan thematique, il a elargi les programmes de formation et de recherche a des domaines nouveaux, comme I'analyse des politiques agricoles, la commer­cialisation des produits agro-alimentaires et la gestion des ressources renouvelables. Sur le plan polit/que, il s 'est ouvert progressivement

aux pays de la rive sud et de la rive est et s'est trans­forme en instrument de cooperation. Cet aspect est tres interessant parce qu'il a ajoute la dimension de la cooperation Sud-Sud a ses orientations traditionnelles de cooperation Nord-Sud. je trouve une grande similitude entre ces dynamiques

de votre histoire et celle des actions de cooperation menees par la Commission au cours des dernteres an­nees. Nos orientations aussi se fondent sur I'ecoute at­tentive des benejiciaires, sur la preference accordee aux reseaux et a la decentralisation des activites, sur le developpement des echanges directs entre les pays benejiciaires. Cette convergence de vues me paralt si­gnijicative. je voudrais m 'arreter maintenant sur la question, no­

vatrice mals aussi delicate, de la liberation des echan­ges agricoles entre la Communaute europeenne et nos partenaires de la Mediterranee.

1I convient de preciser avant tout que la creation d'u­ne zone de libre-echanges ne doit pas etre consideree comme une jin en SOl; comme I'accomplissement d'un

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countries of the southern shores. In this context, the CIHEAM's action in the Mediterra·

nean and our cooperation with your Centre have a key role to play. Our cooperation with the ClHEAM has made great stri­

des forward from 1983 to the present day. Over the last four years the ClHEAM has thrown its full weight behind the implementation of a cooperation programme drawn up and financed in conjunction with the Commission. Our common objective is to help the Mediterranean co­untries take up the challenges of transition that are cur­rently a feature of economic and social life in the re­gion.

I would like to outline a period in your development that strikes me as particularly significant. The CIHEAM was initially conceived as a body providing technical and economic training for future decision-makers in Mediterranean agriculture.

Over the years the CIHEAM has grown in terms of its scope, in terms of its structures and in political terms, tailoring the training and research support services it offers to the needs of agriculture in the Mediterranean countries.

In structural terms, it has strengthened the training and research institutes by developing networks for co­operating with institutions in the Mediterranean coun­tries and decentralising activities towards partner co­untries.

In terms of its scope, it has taken training and re­search programmes into new areas such as the analy­sis of agricultural policies, the marketing of agri-food products and the management of renewable resources.

In political terms, it has gradually opened itself up to countries on the southern and eastern rims of the Me­diterranean and has developed into an instrument for cooperation. This is a highly interesting aspect of its work since it has added a South/South cooperation di­mension to its traditional North/South cooperation ac­tivities.

There are many parallels between the way in which your Centre has developed and the direction taken by the Commission's cooperation policy in recent years. Our approach too is based on listening carefully to aid recipients, giving preference to networks and decentra­lisation, and developing direct interchange between be­neficiary countries. This convergence of views appears to me to be important. I would like to dwell a little at this point on the novel but also delicate issue of the li­beralisation of trade in agricultural products between the EU and our Mediterranean partners.

It should be stressed first and foremost that the crea­tion of a free trade area should not be regarded as an end in itself, as the ultimate destination of our common journey, but rather as one of the instruments for dialo-

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chemin commun, mais comme un des instruments de dialogue, d'echange et de rapprochement des deux ri­ves de la Mediterranee. Done, un instrument qui doit necessairement etre as­

socie a d'autres et qui doit nous aider a creer une ve­ritable relation speciale euromediterraneenne.

La dimension sociale et culturelle doit en effet occu­per une place importante, au meme titre que les ac­tions economiques et commerciales. D 'autre part, non seulement la liberation des echan­

ges entrafnera des effets positifs importants du point de vue economique, mais elle sera aussi un facteur de modernisation determinant et c'est pour cela qu'il con­vient de la poursuivre. La declaration commune adoptee par la con(erence

euromediterraneenne de Barcelone a retenu une per­spective a long terme et elle a jete les bases dune li­beration progressive du commerce agricole entre les deux rives de la Mediterranee.

routefois, cette question est delicate. La liberation du secteur agricole eveille toujours des sentiments tres vifs chez les agriculteurs, les operateurs economiques et les autorites des pays concernes. En fait, la libera­tion des echanges est souvent consideree comme une cause de di(ficultes et une menace pour le marche. A cela s 'ajoute un autre prob!eme. Les productions

caracteristiques pour lesquelles nos partenaires medi­terraneens demandent un acces preferentiel sont les memes que celles des ttats membres du sud de I'U­l7Ion. Par contre, les principaux produits exportes dans les pays de la Mediterranee proviennent du nord de I 'Europe. 1I y a la un risque de tensIOn que nous ne pouvons pas ignorer.

routefois, les contacts entre la Communaute et les pays mediterraneens ont ete tres intenses et (econds et le processus de liberation progressive avance a un bon rythme. De veritables comp/ementarites se sont creees au (il des annees et il existe un esprit de co­operation desormais irreversible. La Communaute et les pays mediterraneens ont su

trouver des terrains d'entente raisonnables qui per­met tent de concilier la liberation des echanges et la necessite de preserver les equilibres du marche. Natu­rellement il reste beaucoup a faire, mais nous sommes dans la bonne voie. le crois que le ClHEAM, par ses diverses activites et

par le dialogue politique annuel entre les Ministres de /'agriculture des pays qui en sont membres, peut ap­porter une contribution de qualite aux ref/exlons en co­urs dans ce secteur.

Le ClHEAM a en effet aussi le merite d'avoir permls I'ouverture dun dialogue politique permanent au ni­veau des Mil7lstres de I'agriculture des treize pays qui en sont membres actuellement Si je ne me trompe pas, vous avez un quatneme rendez-vous de ce type a Beyrouth, en septembre.

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gue, interchange and rapprochement between the two sides of the Mediterranean. An instrument, then, which must necessarily be combined with others and which should help us to create a truly special Euro-Mediterra­nean relationship. The social and cultural dimension should be at the fo­

refront of our efforts, on a par with action in the eco­nomic and commercial sphere.

And liberalisation, in addition to bringing considerable benefits on the economic front, is a major factor in mo­dernisation and should be pursued for that reason too. The joint declaration adopted at the Euro-Mediterra­nean conference in Barcelona set out a long-term per­spective and laid the foundations for gradual liberali­sation of agricultural trade between the two sides of the Mediterranean.

The issue is, however, a delicate one. Liberalisation of the farm sector always rouses strong feelings among farmers, economic operators and public authorities in the countries concerned. Trade liberalisation is often pointed to as a source of difficulties and a threat to the market.

And there is a further problem. The typical products for which our Mediterranean partners are seeking pre­ferential access are the same as those produced by the southern Member States of the European Union, while the key products for export to the Mediterranean co­untries come from the north of Europe. This is a po­tential source of tension that we cannot ignore.

Nevertheless, contacts between the Community and the Mediterranean countries have been extremely close and fruitful and the process of gradual liberalisation is moving forward at a good pace. Over the years we ha­ve created genuine complementarity and established a spirit of lasting cooperation.

The Community and the Mediterranean countries have succeeded in finding reasonable areas of understan­ding which reconcile liberalisation with the need to pre­serve market balances. Much remains to be achieved, of course, but we are on the right track. I am convin­ced that, through its various activities and the annual political dialogue between the agriculture ministers of its member countries, the CIHEAM can make a useful contribution to the ongoing discussions in this area.

For the CIHEAM must also take credit for having ini­tiated a permanent political dialogue between the agri­culture ministers of the thirteen countries which are its current members. If I am not mistaken, you will be hol­ding the fourth meeting of this kind in September in Beirut. I consider this recent development of your activities to

be worthy of note for three reasons.

Firstly, it is an essential process for developing an au­thentic sense of cooperation among all the partners. To

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A mon avis, cette evolution recente de vos activites merite d'etre soulignee pour trois raisons. D 'abord, il s 'agit d'un processus essentiel pour deve­

lopper chez tous les partenaires un sens authentique de la cooperation. Cooperer veut dire "faire ensemble" et done a egalite. Dans les projets de cooperation il n y a plus aucune distinction, pourtant dans I'ordre des cho­ses, entre donateurs et beneficiaires. Les partenaires doivent sentir que le projet appartient a tous sans dis­tinction. Cest dejd un premier pas pour combler /'ecart qui motive la cooperation meme. Ensuite, il s 'agit d'une methode dune grande efticacite

pratique. Rassembler aut our d'une meme table des per­sonnes de haut niveau rehausse la qualite des projets. Ainsi est-il plus facile didentifier les problemes, de trou­ver les bonnes solutions et de les appliquer efficacement Ce dialogue doit etre suivi avec attention. 1I peut en ef

fet en sortir des propositions utiles pour orienter /'enga­gement communautaire vers les pays de la Mediterranee. le pense au developpement des zones rurales, a la co­

operation entre les institutions scientifiques et a la coor­dination des positions euromediterraneennes dans le do­maine des negociations agricoles multilaterales. Ce der­nier point est un element essentiel encore absent de nos politiques mais dont le besoin urgent se fait sentir. le pense aussi, plus precisement, a la defense et a la

valorisation des produits de qualite, a la securite sani­taire des produits agricoles. Sur ce terrain le c/HEAM rend a l'Europe et aux pays

mediterraneens un service dont la valeur est unanime­ment reconnue. le suis certain que ce colloque le prou­vera encore une fois. le vous souhaite a tous bon travail,' au c/HEAM, a son

President, aux Ministres presents, aux Parlementaires et a tous les representants des Organisations internationa­les et nationales qui participent aces entretiens.

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"cooperate" means to "work together" and therefore to act as equal partners. In cooperation projects there is no longer any distinction made between donors and recipients, and this is how things should be in practi­ce.

The partners must feel that the project belongs to everyone without distinction. This is already a first step towards bridging the gap that makes cooperation ne­cessary.

Secondly, it is a method with great practical effective­ness. Bringing everyone around the same table at a high level enhances the calibre of projects. In this way it is easier to identify problems, find satisfactory solu­tions and implement them effectively.

This dialogue should be followed with interest. It can give rise to useful proposals for steering the Commu­nity's commitment to the Mediterranean countries.

I am thinking of the development of rural areas, co­operation between scientific institutions and coordina­tion of the European and Mediterranean positions in the context of multilateral agricultural negotiations. Such coordination has not so far formed part of our po­licies but is urgently needed.

I am also thinking, more specifically, of the need to safeguard and to maximise the returns on high-quality products and to ensure food safety.

In these areas the ClHEAM is rendering Europe and the Mediterranean countries a service whose value is unanimously recognised. I am sure that this gathering will once again demonstrate the fact.

I wish you all the CIHEAM, your Chairman, the Mini­sters, Members of Parliament and representatives of in­ternational and national organisations present here to­day success in your work.