Monday, 4 October back to the three Sectors really doing the real job. I would like to thank them for their cooperation. We are locked in a federal structure, it is not a common ticket where ever-yone units, based on maintaining the current level of CHF 318,000. Ideally, this would be before the end of the first week, so that PP-10 can create the balanced financial plan that we would all want to see. Secondly, I would like to see PP-10 take steps towards stabilizing the basic texts of the Union, with a view to seeing if we can create durable texts that do not require frequent amendment, and which make it easier for the Membership to tell us clearly what they want. And thirdly, I believe we need to work together to increase our Sector Membership, to broaden and strengthen the Union. As a market-responsive organization in a fast-changing can do whatever he sees fit according to his Sector without having to work in a team. I appreciate the team-work as it enables me to go out there and sometimes make some very hard, long, visionary statements, knowing that they are the ones implementing them anyway. Directors, I would like here to take this opportunity to appreciate Mr Johnson and Mr Al Basheer for the work they have done. The Deputy Secretary-General, Mr Zhao, has been a true team player in a federal structure in which you do not run on a common ticket. It can be very difficult for a Secretary-General, but thanks to the strong support I received from my deputy, whom I meet every morning, first thing at 9 o’clock, every evening, last thing, and many times during the day, he has made my life easy. I really want truly to recognize this and I really thank them for making my life easy. Together we have been a winning team I believe. Thank you very much. Distinguished delegates, Before I close this afternoon, I would like to raise three is-sues environment, we need to work constantly to continue to increase our relevance. To this end, we must attract and welcome new members from all branches of ICTs – from traditional players to new market entrants – while retaining existing members with active engagements across our three Sectors. We must ensure that new and existing members see that being a part of ITU represents value for money, and that the-re are clear and compelling reasons to become a member. Perhaps, also, we can simplify things for prospective members? Let’s explore this together, taking into account the com-plex which I believe are of concern to us all, and which I highlighted in Council back in April. Firstly, it is very important for the future of the Union that we find the right way to put in place more stable and more predictable funding mechanisms – for the benefits of both Membership and the Secretariat. With the implementation of new systems such as IPSAS, we have the necessary transparency and discipline to achieve this. Indeed, with better reporting mechanisms, I hope that Membership will be convinced that supporting ITU’s work is good value for money. And that as the world moves beyond the financial crisis, Member States will con-sider needs of different constituencies, such as developing country members or academia, and see if we can find a way to strengthen our membership. This would be to everyone’s advantage. Ladies and gentlemen, As I close, let us be reminded of the spirit of the founding fathers of this great ‘Union’ of ours: the spirit of inclusi-veness, consensus building, cooperation, and a mutual desire for progress. What we will do here, over the next three weeks, will not only shape the future of ITU, but will greatly influence ICT development at the global level. I therefore count on each and every one of you to maintain the truly great ITU spirit, and to afford this Conference the great success it deserves. And finally, I do hope – having made personal efforts to speak a fourth official language, Spanish, over the past few months, after English, French and Russian – to be able to address you soon in Arabic and Chinese too! increasing their ITU contributions to reflect the levels of development of the ICT sectors in their countries. It is vital that this Conference delivers a balanced finan-cial plan for the 2012-2015 period, and that we avoid the experience of 2006, when no financial plan was approved during the Plenipotentiary Conference. It would be good for both Member States and ITU ma-nagement if we could agree to confirm the number of Contributory Units early in the meeting so that the Secretariat can work out the financial plan. I believe that Member States are now in a better position to declare their selection of the number of contributory 19