Thank you for those kind words Dr. Hister. Ladies and gentlemen with the demand we face in this increasing fast paced world I am quite excited and overwhelmed that so many of you ministers, health officials, scientists, child professionals and workers of various disciplines, NGO's and children's advocates from all parts of the world have come to Vancouver to the Congress to support the children. I wish to take this opportunity to make a special mention of the presence with us today of Mrs. Ellan Young-Grant.
It is the gathering such as this that sends our signal of hope to millions of children around the world. To all of you I extend a warm welcome to the Congress. I'm confident that from the presentation, the interactions as well as social activities your journey here will be a memorable one and with new information and fresh ideas. Many individuals, professional societies, organizations, corporations and governments have generously given their time, talents, financial and in kind support to make this event possible.
I wish to express my special thanks to the governments of Canada and British Columbia, the United Nations Children's Fund and the World Health Organization for their strong support. I also wish to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the members of the Congress advisory and planning committee, staffs, scores of volunteers, colleagues and friends who worked long and hard to make this Congress a success. At this joyous moment filled with color, song and youth energy I'm reminded of a touching moment at the first Congress held here in 1992. A person we all respect asked the children to come to the stage as he spoke. Such was the deep empathy and compassion, the late Jim Grant had for children. His vision of the world, a kind and loving place for kids will motivate each one of us during the weeks ahead. Today we celebrate James P. Grant for his devotion to the world's children although he is no longer with us. His vision and his dream for children remains with us.
Jim had this to say about the Congress. This is time for mobilization, bold vision, there's much that can be done at an international meeting of dedicated care givers and health trainers who share common objectives. United Nations Secretary General Dr. Richard Jolly in a special message to this Congress said of Jim Grant and I quote, "The best way to pay homage to this champion of the world's children is to recommit ourselves, each one in our own sphere of personal and professional action to build a world healthier and more abundant for our children". The motivation for the second world Congress came most certainly from Jim. It also comes from the country of Canada which has established a new frame of reference in the world, one in which the nation and the people work together equals the building of a better future for children.
It's fitting I think that historic gathering be a Canadian initiative arising from a country whose soldiers take up station in armed conflict, but not as fighters but as UN peacekeepers. As it has been said they are the ones who in today's wars and conflicts it is the children who are dying. One of the witnesses of the tragic consequence of conflict is Dr. Asmov Sirsilic, who works at the children's hospital in Sarajevo who traveled thousands of miles to be with us today. The time has to come to acknowledge that health and safety of children is an issue of domestic and global concern. That's the heart of the communication effort of the Global Child Health Society. The mandate of the society is utilize twenty-first century technology today to mobilize for a child friendly world.
My personal commitment is to make this society a catalyst for the mobilization for all who work for and had concern for children. I visualize a world wide network, compact child health units linked electronically and entirely dedicated to the mobilization of children's activities. The need for the children is urgent so let us all strive during the next few days to produce follow up actions, forge alliances so when the twenty-first century arrives we will reach the goals set at the world summit for children in 1990.
In closing let us make the world friendly to children and keep Jim Grant's dream of children alive. Thank you.