The predecessor of the OSCE, the CSCE, made its reputation by being a front-runner in advocating human rights and fundamental rights and freedoms and pioneering principles and norms to which participating States committed themselves, at a time when these principles were far from being universally recognized within the OSCE area. By doing so, it raised awareness among ordinary citizens, and made respect for fundamental rights and freedoms as well as their implementation mechanisms an important part of international relations. Eventually, this contributed to the ground-breaking upheavals witnessed in the early 90s. Today confrontation between blocks is over and replaced by co-operation, dialogue and assistance in the transformation process of post-communist societies. All participating States - with a few exceptions - recognize and endeavour to implement the values set out in the Helsinki Final Act and subsequent documents, although there is room for improvement as regards implementation of course. Experience and recent developments show that fundamental rights and freedoms are not guaranteed against setbacks and may not be as solidly enshrined in international and national life and mentality, as one would have liked. On 11 September 2001 one of the worst crimes against humanity in the last 50 years took place. It could happen again, whether we like it or not, and it could happen anywhere. We must therefore recognize that the challenges that may emerge in the next decades concern all areas of the OSCE region and that the scope of the OSCE's concerns and activities cannot be restricted to certain geographical areas. In view of the unpredictability surrounding us, the OSCE must remember its essence if it was to remain relevant and valuable. It must remember that human rights, and the human dimension as a whole, constitute an essential component of security and stability, and that these issues must remain always at the top of the agenda. Both the work of the OSCE and its institutional structure, with institutions such as the Representative on Freedom of the Media and the High Commissioner on National Minorities or my Office, reflect this priority and should continue to do so. Logically, the same should be true for this Conference. It should be one of the highlights on the OSCE's annual calendar. Unfortunately, this has not always been the case over the last years. However, this year we are given a chance to inject new relevance into this meeting, thanks to a new format and modalities adopted a couple of months ago. Some effects are already perceptible, in terms of numbers and quality of the participants, and I am looking forward to the debates of the coming days. The OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting will be successful if it contributes to: strengthening the links between the human dimension work of the OSCE and its institutions on the one hand, and the overall objectives of the organization, such as conflict prevention, of which human dimension is an integral part, on the other; strengthening links and understanding between NGOs and governments; identifying areas where the OSCE and its institutions can further assist in the transition process towards sustainable democracy and, through this, provide guidance for future action, in particular with regard to project work. identifying priorities in the human dimension field, both with a long term, strategic perspective, as well as by setting the agenda for the near future. This includes human dimension issues to be brought to the ministerial level later the same year, or identifying topics for human dimension meetings in Vienna and elsewhere for the following year; discussing issues of concern in the field of human rights - wherever they take place. This is particularly relevant at times of uncertainty about the solidity and universal acceptance of some international norms and mechanisms created to protect human rights on the one hand, and, on the other hand, when human rights continue to be routinely violated in too many participating States. Used in such a way, I believe the Implementation Meeting can prove to be a useful tool not only for the participating States, but also for partner organizations and NGOs. Traditionally a large number of recommendations are produced at this meeting. I would hope that those of them which are well-focused, clear in their objectives, politically realistic and above all, operational - nobody needs pompous declaration reinventing the wheel - could be followed-up at the Ministerial Council later this year and, beyond that, guide our work for the future. I hope in particular that recommendations on combating trafficking in human beings and the fight against terrorism will find their way into a Ministerial Council document - just to name two examples. The fight against terrorism is one of the areas where the OSCE can bring added value by addressing some of the root causes such as the lack of respect for human rights and democratic standards, political extremism and intolerance, in particular religious intolerance. The new, more focused format of this conference will facilitate our work. This week we will concentrate on working groups addressing key issues such as fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, tolerance and non-discrimination, as well as democratic institutions. I hope that the discussions will go beyond the present situation and that we will also anticipate the challenges that we all face at the beginning of the second decade since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Among these challenges is the fact that too often democratic changes are limited to appearances of democracy through organizing elections or adopting new laws. But the fundamental understanding that democracy actually means credible checks and balances, social and ethnic inclusiveness, a truly independent judiciary and active and participatory civil society, is often still missing. Will we have in the next decade more democratic elections, greater commitment to civic empowerment, real separation of power, and true rule of law across the whole OSCE region? This is also something that should be discussed at this meeting. Following the regular sessions this week, the next week will be devoted to specific topics. The first day will concentrate on project work, which I believe is not only a major achievement of the ODIHR in the last years, but also benefits to the OSCE and its participating States as a whole in the process of transition. The second day will be devoted to trafficking in human beings. There will be testimonies from victims of trafficking in human beings, and a declaration and a road map may be discussed at the session. And last but not least, there will be a session on international election standards, the importance of which I wish particularly to stress, as elections observation and assistance remain one of the main activities of my Institution. Election related commitments, although essential for democracy, are scarce and ill-defined. Various commitments, standards, case law, comments and reports interpreting the standards are dispersed across a considerable number of documents in various fora, such as the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights, the UN Human Rights Committee. Even the OSCE's Copenhagen Document is only an incomplete set of commitments. It is therefore important for the ODIHR to review and analyse these commitments, with a view to providing a comprehensive and annotated document for ready reference. We work on this closely with the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. This could possibly lead to a European convention on election standards. The interim report being distributed at this conference represents the status quo in this work, which is ongoing and far from having reached its final stage. Finally and in addition to the formal agenda, a substantial number of side events will take place, at the initiative of NGOs, partner organizations or the ODIHR. Although informal in character, they should, as was the case in the past, add value to this meeting and give the possibility to present specific concerns to be discussed more in-depth than time allows during the regular sessions. Such will be the case, for instance, with the panel on corruption, media work at times of conflict, or monitoring minority rights, to name but a few. Mr. Chairman, I have attempted once more, and for the last time in my tenure, to raise awareness on the importance of this meeting. In ten days we will be able to make a first assessment. The final assessment on the meeting's format, its value and its adaptation to today's needs will depend mainly on how it will be integrated, or "mainstreamed" as some would say, into the work of the Organization in the Vienna headquarters and beyond, at the ministerial level. I wish all participants a fruitful and interesting time. Thank you very much.