Welcome Address

N^o 010 - en

Dear Teachers of the International School of Geneva,
My dear youngsters,

It fills my heart with warmth to welcome you here at the ITU Headquarters on behalf of the Secretary-General, Mr. Yoshio UTSUMI who is away on mission.

This is indeed a very special occasion to have you amongst us. It is not everyday that we have so many children gathered in a conference room. In a few minutes you will learn what the ITU does to help the world. You are the digital generation and as I can judge by your age, you were all born with a computer in your cradle.

Allow me to say one thing though. Not every school child of your age has access to a computer in the world. I am sure that you are aware that there are many poor regions in this world. Millions of people have never seen let alone use a standard telephone. At the ITU we are doing our best to ensure that every inhabitant on earth has access to the new technologies of today. The task is not easy and we need to work very hard.

I sincerely trust that you will learn a lot on our organisation and who knows, may be some of you here may one day work for the ITU. Young children like you are our hopes of tomorrow.

To the teachers and pupils of the International School of Geneva, I would like to once again wish a very warm welcome and I have the pleasure to pass the floor to Mr. Paratian, who will now present to you our Organization.

Thank you.

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