WTSA-2004
World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly
Florianópolis, Brazil
14 October 2004

Mr José Leite Pereira Filho
Member of the Board of Directors, ANATEL

Mr Blois, ITU Deputy Secretary-General
Mr Zhao, TSB Director
Mr Pinheiro, WTSA-04 Chairman
Ladies and gentlemen,

At the time we close this World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly WTSA-04 and try to visualize the concrete outcome of the debates carried out here, it may appear, superficially, that these results were easily arrived at. Quite on the contrary, it is relevant to recognize that the path you went through was very laborious, requiring unselfishness, comprehension and an overwhelming disposition of cooperation of all those who took part in the presentations, discussions, and negotiations. Let us not underestimate, therefore, the efforts that have been done in the meeting rooms and outside. They were essential to the successful outcome of this Assembly, because consensus is the key concept of ITU.

Among the various important decisions taken by this Assembly, I am particularly glad to mention two of them.

First, this Assembly made a great step forward in establishing a Study Group to deal with Next Generation Networks, based on a compromise package negotiated by the Chairman of the Assembly, allowing the work to begin immediately on this topic, with the possibility of, within two years, reviewing the necessity of further Study Groups restructuring.

Second, I would also like to stress the approval of a new resolution with the purpose of bridging the standardization gap between developing and developed countries, coupled with a detailed action plan for the implementation of Resolution 123 of the 2002 Plenipotentiary Conference in Marrakesh.

Concerning the objectives of the Assembly, as a whole, I see that the general feeling is the one of "mission accomplie". I am confident to state that this Assembly met the expectations of ITU-T members, including sector members, grasping this unique opportunity to review ITU’s structure and working methods for the next study period. Indeed, this Assembly enabled the ITU Standardization Sector to closely follow the never ending breakthroughs of the technological sector.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Assembly is coming to a close. It is time now for congratulations.

Let me first congratulate every Member state and sector member present to this Assembly. Every one of you played an important role in the results achieved by this Assembly.

I am also very pleased to express my special thanks to the Chairman of the Assembly, Mr. Pinheiro, for the way he led WTSA-04, including the holding of informal meetings in search of compromise solutions and consensus. I believe this facilitated the works, and allowed for its completion within the allotted time framework. My special thanks equally to the committees and working groups chairmen for their precise and stiff coordination done.

Last but not the least, I would like to give special thanks to those responsible for the organization and logistic of this Assembly in Florianopolis. The ITU and the Brazilian staffs in charge of the infrastructure of this event are engaged, for more than one year and a half, in preparing this meeting, taking care of every detail to assure the smooth execution of the work of the Assembly. And I understand these persons gave their best efforts and did a wonderful job.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The time of departure has sounded. I wish to all of you a safe trip back to your countries and to your families.

Thank you very much.