SEVENTH PLENARY MEETING
SEPTIEME SEANCE PLENIERE
SEPTIMA SESION PLENARIA

(6 November 1987)

The Seventh Plenary Meeting was opened at 09.45 hours
Elio Pascarelli, Vice-chairman of the Council, presiding

La septième seance plentère est ouverte à 9 h 45, sous la présidence
d'Elio Pascarelli, Vice-President du Conseil

Se abre la séptima Sesión Plenaria a las 09.45 horas bajo la presidencia
de Elio Pascarelli, Vicepresidente del Consejo

CHAIRMAN: This meeting was quite unforeseen because the plan was for the Council to last from 3 to 5 November. That was our Chairman's wish expressed in his opening address. It was also in my mind and many others concurred with it because we have plenty to do for the forthcoming Conference. So I am sorry for the inconvenience caused to ail of us, as was our Chairman. Everybody has enjoyed his democratic right to take the floor, but my personal impression is that not everybody exercised the self restraint that was expected. My conscious is Serene, and I cannot hide my personal satisfaction at being called quite unexpectedly to chair this meeting. In fact, this is the only and last occasion of my long career to exercise such a high function in any international organization before I pass the baton to my successor in the coming weeks. I Crave your indulgence for my inexperience, and I count upon the invaluable assistance as usual of the Secretariat. I thank them and you all for your understanding, and conclude by remarking that sitting only three steps higher than members and ' observer delegates imposes on me the respect of the code of behaviour that, as a delegate for Italy, did not limit my full freedom of speech enjoyed until last night in your midst.

Therefore, being now requested to act as Chairman of this last meeting I pass to my deputy sitting in my former seat in this hall all my rights as Italian delegate. In opening the discussion on our last item of the agenda I foresake, hopefully for a very short while, my freedom to speak up on behalf of my country.