Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Republic of Tunisia

I am happy to welcome our honourable hosts, world-renowned individuals, presidents of regional and international institutions, experts, researchers, and representatives of NGOs to this international conference. I also wish to express my warm thanks to the international organizations that have contributed to the preparation of this conference, particularly to UNESCO and to the scientific and technical committees for managing and organizing our work. It gives me great pride that this important meeting should take place on Tunisian soil, a country of solidarity, encounters and dialogue between civilizations.

Following on the resounding success of the World Summit on the Information Society, which took place in November 2005 in Tunisia, with the aim to reduce the digital divide between peoples, my country has today the honour to welcome the world's elite to discuss a subject of international importance, namely the appraisal of achievements in combating desertification over the last 50 years and the discussion of future work to be carried out on behalf of future generations, particularly those living in the drylands.